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Journal of Pain and Symptom Management May 2021Children with cancer and their families have complex needs related to symptoms, decision-making, care planning, and psychosocial impact extending across the illness...
CONTEXT
Children with cancer and their families have complex needs related to symptoms, decision-making, care planning, and psychosocial impact extending across the illness trajectory, which for some includes end of life. Whether specialty pediatric palliative care (SPPC) is associated with improved outcomes for children with cancer and their families is unknown.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines to investigate outcomes associated with SPPC in pediatric oncology with a focus on intervention delivery, collaboration, and alignment with National Quality Forum domains.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases from inception until April 2020 and reviewed references manually. Eligible articles were published in English, involved pediatric patients aged 0-18 years with cancer, and contained original data regarding patient and family illness and end-of-life experiences, including symptom management, communication, decision-making, quality of life, satisfaction, and healthcare utilization.
RESULTS
We screened 6682 article abstracts and 82 full-text articles; 32 studies met inclusion criteria, representing 15,635 unique children with cancer and 342 parents. Generally, children with cancer who received SPPC had improved symptom burden, pain control, and quality of life with decreased intensive procedures, increased completion of advance care planning and resuscitation status documentation, and fewer end-of-life intensive care stays with higher likelihood of dying at home. Family impact included satisfaction with SPPC and perception of improved communication.
CONCLUSION
SPPC may improve illness experiences for children with cancer and their families. Multisite studies utilizing comparative effectiveness approaches and validated metrics may support further advancement of the field.
Topics: Child; Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; Humans; Neoplasms; Palliative Care; Quality of Life; Terminal Care
PubMed: 33348034
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.12.003 -
American Journal of Critical Care : An... Sep 2022Hospital-acquired pressure injuries, including those related to airway devices, are a significant source of morbidity in critically ill patients. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Hospital-acquired pressure injuries, including those related to airway devices, are a significant source of morbidity in critically ill patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of endotracheal tube-related pressure injuries in critically ill patients and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to prevent injury.
METHODS
MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies of pediatric or adult patients in intensive care units that evaluated interventions to reduce endotracheal tube-related pressure injury. Reviewers extracted data on study and patient characteristics, incidence of pressure injury, type and duration of intervention, and outcomes. Risk of bias assessment followed the Cochrane Collaboration's criteria.
RESULTS
Twelve studies (5 randomized clinical trials, 3 quasi-experimental, 4 observational) representing 9611 adult and 152 pediatric patients met eligibility criteria. The incidence of pressure injury was 4.2% for orotracheal tubes and 21.1% for nasotracheal tubes. Interventions included anchor devices, serial endotracheal tube assessment or repositioning, and barrier dressings for nasotracheal tubes. Meta-analysis revealed that endotracheal tube stabilization was the most effective individual intervention for preventing pressure injury. Nasal alar barrier dressings decreased the incidence of skin or mucosal injury in patients undergoing nasotracheal intubation, and data on effectiveness of serial assessment and repositioning were inconclusive.
CONCLUSIONS
Airway device-related pressure injuries are common in critically ill patients, and patients with nasotracheal tubes are particularly susceptible to iatrogenic harm. Fastening devices and barrier dressings decrease the incidence of injury. Evidence regarding interventions is limited by lack of standardized assessments.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Critical Illness; Incidence; Intensive Care Units; Intubation, Intratracheal; Pressure Ulcer
PubMed: 36045034
DOI: 10.4037/ajcc2022644 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Jun 2022Among the distraction techniques used for the non-pharmacological management of acute pediatric pain, one of the most performed is clown therapy. Despite the presence in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
UNLABELLED
Among the distraction techniques used for the non-pharmacological management of acute pediatric pain, one of the most performed is clown therapy. Despite the presence in the literature of some systematic reviews that evaluate its effectiveness, none of them examines its outcomes on procedural pain which has therefore been investigated in this study. The literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed on the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus over a time frame ranging from each database setup date to 31 July 2021. The primary outcome was the procedural pain of children. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool to assess the risk of bias of the included studies. Six RCTs were selected for this review, which included a total of 517 pediatric subjects. Children undergoing clown therapy during the venipuncture or peripheral vein cannulation procedure reported less pain than those exposed to the standard of care (SMD = -0.55; 95% CI: -1.23, 0.13) but the result was not found to be statistically significant. School-aged children and adolescent reported significantly less pain (SMD = -0.51; 95% CI: -0.92, -0.09). Compared to the standard of care, children's anxiety was significantly lower with clown therapy (SMD = -0.97; 95% CI: -1.38, -0.56).
CONCLUSION
Clown therapy seems effective in reducing procedural pain in children, particularly for older age groups, but due to poor methodological quality and the high risk of bias of the studies included, the results obtained should be considered with caution.
WHAT IS KNOWN
• Clown therapy is one of the most used techniques in the non-pharmacological management of acute pediatric pain. • Laughter physiologically stimulates the production of beta-endorphins, substances with an effect similar to opiates.
WHAT IS NEW
• Clown therapy seems effective in reducing procedural pain and anxiety in children. • The intervention in school-age children or adolescents produces a statistically significant decrease in the symptom.
Topics: Adolescent; Aged; Anxiety; Child; Humans; Pain; Pain Measurement; Pain, Procedural; Phlebotomy
PubMed: 35294645
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04440-9 -
Critical Care Medicine Sep 2019To synthesize the literature describing compliance with World Health Organization hand hygiene guidelines in ICUs, to evaluate the quality of extant research, and to...
OBJECTIVES
To synthesize the literature describing compliance with World Health Organization hand hygiene guidelines in ICUs, to evaluate the quality of extant research, and to examine differences in compliance levels across geographical regions, ICU types, and healthcare worker groups, observation methods, and moments (indications) of hand hygiene.
DATA SOURCES
Electronic searches were conducted in August 2018 using Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase, and Web of Science. Reference lists of included studies and related review articles were also screened.
STUDY SELECTION
English-language, peer-reviewed studies measuring hand hygiene compliance by healthcare workers in an ICU setting using direct observation guided by the World Health Organization's "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene," published since 2009, were included.
DATA EXTRACTION
Information was extracted on study location, research design, type of ICU, healthcare workers, measurement procedures, and compliance levels.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Sixty-one studies were included. Most were conducted in high-income countries (60.7%) and in adult ICUs (85.2%). Mean hand hygiene compliance was 59.6%. Compliance levels appeared to differ by geographic region (high-income countries 64.5%, low-income countries 9.1%), type of ICU (neonatal 67.0%, pediatric 41.2%, adult 58.2%), and type of healthcare worker (nursing staff 43.4%, physicians 32.6%, other staff 53.8%).
CONCLUSIONS
Mean hand hygiene compliance appears notably lower than international targets. The data collated may offer useful indicators for those evaluating, and seeking to improve, hand hygiene compliance in ICUs internationally.
Topics: Cross Infection; Global Health; Guideline Adherence; Hand Hygiene; Health Personnel; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Residence Characteristics; World Health Organization
PubMed: 31219838
DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003868 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... May 2020Children with cancer often undergo long treatment trajectories involving repeated needle procedures that potentially cause pain and distress. As part of a comprehensive...
BACKGROUND
Children with cancer often undergo long treatment trajectories involving repeated needle procedures that potentially cause pain and distress. As part of a comprehensive effort to develop clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to address pain prevention and management in children with cancer, we aimed to provide recommendations on the pharmacological and psychological management of procedure-related pain and distress.
METHODS
Of the international inter-disciplinary CPG development panel (44 individuals), two working groups including 13 healthcare professionals focused on procedural pain and distress. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was used, including the use of systematic literature reviews to inform recommendations and the use of evidence to decision frameworks. At an in-person meeting in February 2018, the guideline panel discussed these frameworks and formulated recommendations which were then discussed with a patient-parent panel consisting of 4 survivors and 5 parents.
RESULTS
The systematic reviews led to the inclusion of 48 randomised controlled trials (total number of participants = 2271). Quality of evidence supporting the recommendations ranged from very low to moderate. Strong recommendations were made for the use of topical anesthetics in all needle procedures, for offering deep sedation (DS)/general anesthesia (GA) to all children undergoing lumbar puncture, for the use of DS/ GA in major procedures in children of all ages, for the use of hypnosis in all needle procedures and for the use of active distraction in all needle procedures.
CONCLUSION
In this CPG, an evidence-based approach to manage procedure-related pain and distress in children with cancer is presented. As children with cancer often undergo repeated needle procedures during treatment, prevention and alleviation of procedure-related pain and distress is of the utmost importance to increase quality of life in these children and their families.
Topics: Age Factors; Antineoplastic Agents; Child; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Injections; Medical Oncology; Needles; Neoplasms; Pain, Procedural; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 32302949
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.02.039 -
Medicine Jan 2020Sedoanalgesia secondary iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) in paediatric intensive units is frequent and its assessment is complex. Therapies are heterogeneous, and...
BACKGROUND
Sedoanalgesia secondary iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) in paediatric intensive units is frequent and its assessment is complex. Therapies are heterogeneous, and there is currently no gold standard method for diagnosis. In addition, the assessment scales validated in children are scarce. This paper aims to identify and describe both the paediatric diagnostic and assessment tools for the IWS and the treatments for the IWS in critically ill paediatric patients.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. This review included descriptive and observational studies published since 2000 that analyzed paediatric scales for the evaluation of the iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and its treatments. The eligibility criteria included neonates, newborns, infants, pre-schoolers, and adolescents, up to age 18, who were admitted to the paediatric intensive care units with continuous infusion of hypnotics and/or opioid analgesics, and who presented signs or symptoms of deprivation related to withdrawal and prolonged infusion of sedoanalgesia.
RESULTS
Three assessment scales were identified: Withdrawal Assessment Tool-1, Sophia Observation Withdrawal Symptoms, and Opioid and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Score. Dexmedetomidine, methadone and clonidine were revealed as options for the treatment and prevention of the iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome. Finally, the use of phenobarbital suppressed symptoms of deprivation that are resistant to other drugs.
CONCLUSIONS
The reviewed scales facilitate the assessment of the iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome and have a high diagnostic quality. However, its clinical use is very rare. The treatments identified in this review prevent and effectively treat this syndrome. The use of validated iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome assessment scales in paediatrics clinical practice facilitates assessment, have a high diagnostic quality, and should be encouraged, also ensuring nurses' training in their usage.
Topics: Child; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
PubMed: 32000360
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018502 -
International Journal of Stroke :... Aug 2023Despite its importance in being among the top 10 causes of childhood death, there is limited data on the incidence of stroke in children and whether this has changed... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Despite its importance in being among the top 10 causes of childhood death, there is limited data on the incidence of stroke in children and whether this has changed over time.
AIMS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the worldwide incidence rate of pediatric ischemic stroke, identify population differences, and assess trends in incidence.
METHODS
We screened three databases (Medline, Embase, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL)) and a Google Search was performed up to October 2021. The protocol was pre-registered: PROSPERO: CRD42021273749. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently undertaken by two reviewers. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis using Stata SE17 to calculate the overall incidence rate. Heterogeneity was assessed using I. Meta-regression and assessment for bias were performed.
RESULTS
Out of 4166 records identified, 39 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and the quantitative meta-analysis. The incidence rate for all ischemic strokes varied from 0.9 to 7.9 per 100,000 person-years, with a pooled incidence of 2.09 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-2.76). The pooled incidence was 1.28 (95% CI: 0.75-2.19) per 100,000 person-years for arterial ischemic stroke, and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.31-1.02) per 100,000 person-years for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The incidence of arterial ischemic stroke was high in neonates, less than 28 days old (18.51, 95% CI: 12.70-26.97). Significant heterogeneity was observed in the initial analyses of stroke incidence estimates, and geographical region, cohort age upper limit, length of study, study quality, and study design could not explain this. The incidence rate of childhood stroke appeared remained relatively stable over time.
CONCLUSION
Our review provides estimates of global stroke incidence, including stroke subtypes, in children. It demonstrates a particularly high stroke incidence in neonates.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Humans; Child; Stroke; Ischemic Stroke; Incidence; Research Design; Time
PubMed: 36691675
DOI: 10.1177/17474930231155336 -
Oral Diseases Dec 2023Sleep bruxism (SB) is a repetitive rhythmic and nonrhythmic activity. It can be a comorbid condition for other disorders, such as sleep breathing disorders (SBD).... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Sleep bruxism (SB) is a repetitive rhythmic and nonrhythmic activity. It can be a comorbid condition for other disorders, such as sleep breathing disorders (SBD). However, a clear causal link between these factors is yet to be established. Moreover, this relationship is even more unknown in children. Thus, this systematic review aimed to determine the relationship between SB and SBD in children and teenagers and consolidate the current knowledge about the possible association between both phenomena at the pediatric age.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Advanced searches were performed in five electronic databases with the last search updated on February 1, 2023. The methodological quality of the selected studies was analyzed using the quality assessment tool for experimental bruxism studies.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine of 6378 articles were selected for detailed analyses. Most articles found a comorbid relationship between SB and SBD, though no study analyzed a temporary relationship. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, a meta-analysis could not be performed.
CONCLUSION
Despite the limitations of this systematic review, it can be concluded that there is an association between SB and SBD in children. However, the level of evidence is low.
PubMed: 38098259
DOI: 10.1111/odi.14839 -
Annals of Emergency Medicine Apr 2024Our primary objectives were to identify clinical practice guideline recommendations for children with acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) presenting to an emergency...
STUDY OBJECTIVE
Our primary objectives were to identify clinical practice guideline recommendations for children with acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) presenting to an emergency department (ED), appraise their overall quality, and synthesize the quality of evidence and the strength of included recommendations.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and medical association websites from January 2012 to May 2023 for clinical practice guidelines with at least 1 recommendation targeting pediatric mTBI populations presenting to the ED within 48 hours of injury for any diagnostic or therapeutic intervention in the acute phase of care (ED and inhospital). Pairs of reviewers independently assessed overall clinical practice guideline quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool. The quality of evidence on recommendations was synthesized using a matrix based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Evidence-to-Decision framework.
RESULTS
We included 11 clinical practice guidelines, of which 6 (55%) were rated high quality. These included 101 recommendations, of which 34 (34%) were based on moderate- to high-quality evidence, covering initial assessment, initial diagnostic imaging, monitoring/observation, therapeutic interventions, discharge advice, follow-up, and patient and family support. We did not identify any evidence-based recommendations in high-quality clinical practice guidelines for repeat imaging, neurosurgical consultation, or hospital admission. Lack of strategies and tools to aid implementation and editorial independence were the most common methodological weaknesses.
CONCLUSIONS
We identified 34 recommendations based on moderate- to high-quality evidence that may be considered for implementation in clinical settings. Our review highlights important areas for future research. This review also underlines the importance of providing strategies to facilitate the implementation of clinical practice guideline recommendations for pediatric mTBI.
Topics: Humans; Child; Brain Concussion; Emergency Service, Hospital
PubMed: 38142375
DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.11.012 -
Hospital Pediatrics Jun 2021Pediatric family-centered rounds (FCRs) have been shown to have benefits in staff satisfaction, teaching, and rounding efficiency, but no systematic review has been... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
Pediatric family-centered rounds (FCRs) have been shown to have benefits in staff satisfaction, teaching, and rounding efficiency, but no systematic review has been conducted to explicitly examine the humanistic impact of FCRs.
OBJECTIVE
The objective with this review is to determine if FCRs promote the core values of humanism in medicine by answering the question, "Do FCRs promote humanistic pediatric care?"
DATA SOURCES
Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we conducted a search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Dissertation Abstracts for peer-reviewed pediatric studies through January 1, 2020. We used search terms including FCRs, communication, humanism, and the specific descriptors in the Gold Foundation's definition of humanism.
STUDY SELECTION
Abstracts ( = 1003) were assessed for 5 primary outcomes: empathy, enhanced communication, partnership, respect, and satisfaction and service. We evaluated 158 full-text articles for inclusion, reconciling discrepancies through an iterative process.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data abstraction, thematic analysis, and conceptual synthesis were conducted on 29 studies.
RESULTS
Pediatric family-centered rounds (FCRs) improved humanistic outcomes within all 5 identified themes. Not all studies revealed improvement within every category. The humanistic benefits of FCRs are enhanced through interventions targeted toward provider-family barriers, such as health literacy. Patients with limited English proficiency or disabilities or who were receiving intensive care gained additional benefits.
CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric FCRs promote humanistic outcomes including increased empathy, partnership, respect, service, and communication. Limitations included difficulty in defining humanism, variable implementation, and inconsistent reporting of humanistic outcomes. Future efforts should include highlighting FCR's humanistic benefits, universal implementation, and adapting FCRs to pandemics such as coronavirus disease 2019.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Child; Child, Hospitalized; Communication; Empathy; Humanism; Humans; Pediatrics; Professional-Family Relations; Teaching Rounds
PubMed: 34021029
DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2020-000240