A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot study
Abstract Background Globally, most children seek emergency care at general rather than specialized pediatric emergency departments. There remains significant variation in the provision of pediatric emergency care, particularly in resource-constrained settings. The objective of this study is to pilot...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00802-2 |
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| author | Sonia Y. Jarrett Andrew Redfern Joyce Li Camilo E. Gutierrez Priyanka Patel Olurotimi Akinola Michelle L. Niescierenko |
| author_facet | Sonia Y. Jarrett Andrew Redfern Joyce Li Camilo E. Gutierrez Priyanka Patel Olurotimi Akinola Michelle L. Niescierenko |
| author_sort | Sonia Y. Jarrett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Globally, most children seek emergency care at general rather than specialized pediatric emergency departments. There remains significant variation in the provision of pediatric emergency care, particularly in resource-constrained settings. The objective of this study is to pilot a self-assessment tool to evaluate pediatric emergency care capabilities in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) hospitals on the African Continent. Methods This was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study using a convenience sample of sub-Saharan African hospitals. The assessment tool was developed by operationalizing the technical contents of existing standards and guidelines from international bodies including the World Health Organization and International Federation of Emergency Medicine. The pilot was conducted at emergency departments located across different regions on the African continent. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate different domains of pediatric emergency care capabilities including pediatric triage, protocols, staffing, training, equipment, consumables, and medicines. Results Sixteen hospitals with emergency departments completed the assessment tool (participation rate of 76%). The hospitals were in nine different countries across four regions of sub-Saharan Africa. National/academic hospitals comprised 56.3% of the participating hospitals. The majority, 44%, of these hospitals saw pediatric patient volumes of 2,000–4,999 patients per year. Dedicated pediatric triage spaces and resuscitation spaces were available at 37.5% and 56.3%, respectively. Formal pediatric resuscitation guidelines were used at 62.5%. Doctors on the self-assessment teams came from primarily pediatrics and general practitioner training backgrounds (both 68.8%). Basic respiratory and airway support equipment (e.g. oxygen, bag-valve mask devices) were available in all participating hospitals, whereas advanced airway equipment (e.g. pediatric intubation equipment) was available in 37.5% of hospitals. Most medicines from the World Health Organization Essential Medicines list were available at participating hospitals. Conclusions To date, this is the first assessment tool dedicated to the comprehensive evaluation of pediatric emergency care in LMICs. This pilot provides a first approach to evaluate pediatric emergency healthcare capabilities in the hospital setting with future directions to improve the tool based on qualitative feedback. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4048a2b4358f427995146ed93cb849a1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1865-1380 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-4048a2b4358f427995146ed93cb849a12025-01-19T12:08:46ZengBMCInternational Journal of Emergency Medicine1865-13802025-01-0118111210.1186/s12245-024-00802-2A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot studySonia Y. Jarrett0Andrew Redfern1Joyce Li2Camilo E. Gutierrez3Priyanka Patel4Olurotimi Akinola5Michelle L. Niescierenko6Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s HospitalDepartment of Paediatrics & Child Health, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg HospitalDivision of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s HospitalEmergency Medicine Division, Children’s National HospitalCoast General Teaching and Referral HospitalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University College HospitalDivision of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s HospitalAbstract Background Globally, most children seek emergency care at general rather than specialized pediatric emergency departments. There remains significant variation in the provision of pediatric emergency care, particularly in resource-constrained settings. The objective of this study is to pilot a self-assessment tool to evaluate pediatric emergency care capabilities in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) hospitals on the African Continent. Methods This was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study using a convenience sample of sub-Saharan African hospitals. The assessment tool was developed by operationalizing the technical contents of existing standards and guidelines from international bodies including the World Health Organization and International Federation of Emergency Medicine. The pilot was conducted at emergency departments located across different regions on the African continent. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate different domains of pediatric emergency care capabilities including pediatric triage, protocols, staffing, training, equipment, consumables, and medicines. Results Sixteen hospitals with emergency departments completed the assessment tool (participation rate of 76%). The hospitals were in nine different countries across four regions of sub-Saharan Africa. National/academic hospitals comprised 56.3% of the participating hospitals. The majority, 44%, of these hospitals saw pediatric patient volumes of 2,000–4,999 patients per year. Dedicated pediatric triage spaces and resuscitation spaces were available at 37.5% and 56.3%, respectively. Formal pediatric resuscitation guidelines were used at 62.5%. Doctors on the self-assessment teams came from primarily pediatrics and general practitioner training backgrounds (both 68.8%). Basic respiratory and airway support equipment (e.g. oxygen, bag-valve mask devices) were available in all participating hospitals, whereas advanced airway equipment (e.g. pediatric intubation equipment) was available in 37.5% of hospitals. Most medicines from the World Health Organization Essential Medicines list were available at participating hospitals. Conclusions To date, this is the first assessment tool dedicated to the comprehensive evaluation of pediatric emergency care in LMICs. This pilot provides a first approach to evaluate pediatric emergency healthcare capabilities in the hospital setting with future directions to improve the tool based on qualitative feedback.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00802-2Pediatric emergency medicinePediatric readinessLow-income countriesMiddle-income countriesHealth resources / supply and distribution |
| spellingShingle | Sonia Y. Jarrett Andrew Redfern Joyce Li Camilo E. Gutierrez Priyanka Patel Olurotimi Akinola Michelle L. Niescierenko A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot study International Journal of Emergency Medicine Pediatric emergency medicine Pediatric readiness Low-income countries Middle-income countries Health resources / supply and distribution |
| title | A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot study |
| title_full | A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot study |
| title_short | A novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot study |
| title_sort | novel tool for assessing pediatric emergency care in low and middle income countries a pilot study |
| topic | Pediatric emergency medicine Pediatric readiness Low-income countries Middle-income countries Health resources / supply and distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00802-2 |
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