Search

Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Tanzania, the competency of healthcare providers critically influences the quality of pediatric care. To address this issue, we introduced Pediatric Acute Care Education (PACE), an adaptive learning program to enhance provider competency in Tanzania’s guidelines for managing seriously ill children. Adaptive learning is a promising alternative to current in-service education, yet optimal implementation strategies in LMIC settings are unknown. Objectives (1) To evaluate the initial PACE implementation in Mwanza, Tanzania, using the construct of normalization process theory (NPT); (2) To provide insights into its feasibility, acceptability, and scalability potential. Methods Mixed-methods study involving healthcare providers at three facilities. Quantitative data was collected using the Normalization MeAsure Development (NoMAD) questionnaire, while qualitative data was gathered through in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus groups discussions (FGDs). Results Eighty-two healthcare providers completed the NoMAD survey. Additionally, 24 senior providers participated in IDIs, and 79 junior providers participated in FGDs. Coherence and cognitive participation were high, demonstrating that PACE is well understood and resonates with existing healthcare goals. Providers expressed a willingness to integrate PACE into their practices, distinguishing it from existing educational methods. However, challenges related to resources and infrastructure, particularly those affecting collective action, were noted. Early indicators point toward the potential for long-term sustainability of the PACE, but assessment of reflexive monitoring was limited due to the study’s focus on PACE’s initial implementation. Conclusion This study offers vital insights into the feasibility and acceptability of implementing PACE in a Tanzanian context. While PACE aligns well with healthcare objectives, addressing resource and infrastructure challenges as well as conducting a longer-term study to assess reflexive monitoring is crucial for its successful implementation. Furthermore, the study underscores the value of the NPT as a framework for guiding implementation processes, with broader implications for implementation science and pediatric acute care in LMICs.

Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) provide multidisciplinary care to critically ill children and their families. Grief is present throughout the trajectory of illness and can peak around the time of death or non-death losses. The objective of this study was to assess how PICUs around the world implement grief and bereavement care (GBC) as part of an integrated model of care. This is a multicenter cross-sectional, prospective survey study. Questionnaires with multiple-choice and open-ended questions focusing on unit infrastructure, personnel, policies, limited patient data, and practices related to GBC for families and health care professionals (HCPs) were completed by on-site researchers, who were HCPs on the direct care of patients. PICU fulfillment of GBC goals was evaluated using a custom scoring based on indicators developed by the Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (IPPC). We compared average total and individual items fulfillment scores according to the respective country's World Bank income. Patient characteristics and details of unit infrastructure were also evaluated as potential predictors of total GBC fulfillment scores. Statistical analysis included multilevel generalized linear models (GLM) with a Gaussian distribution adjusted by child age/gender and clustering by center, using high income countries (HICs) as the comparative reference. Additionally, we applied principals of content analysis to analyze and summarize open-ended answers to contextualize qualitative data. The study included 34 PICUs from 18 countries: high-income countries (HICs): 32.4%, upper middle-income countries (UMICs): 44.1%, low middle-income and low-income countries (LMI/LICs): 23.5%. All groups reported some compliance with GBC goals; no group reported perfect fulfillment. We found statistically significant differences in GBC fulfillment scores between HICs and UMICs (specifically, HCP grief support), and between HICs and LMICs (specifically, family grief support and HCP grief support). PICUs world-wide provide some GBC, independent of income, but barriers include lack of financial support, time, and training, overall unit culture, presence of a palliative care consultation service, and varying cultural perceptions of child death. Disparities in GBC for families and HCPs exist and were related to the native countries' income level. Identifying barriers to support families and HCPs, can lead to opportunities of improving GBC in PICUs world-wide.

The adequate assessment and management of pain remains a challenging task in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Our goal is to describe how pain is assessed and managed in PICUs around the world and to examine how human and material resources impact achievement of this goal. An international multicenter cross-sectional observational study was designed with the participation of 34 PICUs located in urban, suburban, and rural areas of 18 countries. We evaluated how PICUs around the world assessed and managed pain according to the Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care recommendations, and how human and material resources impacted achievement of this goal. Data was collected for this study from 2016 to 2018 using questionnaires completed by medical doctors and nurses. In this paper, we focus on the indicators related to how pain is managed and assessed. The average achievement of the goal of pain relief across all centers was 72.2% (SD: 21.1). We found a statistically significant trend of more effective pain management scores, routine assessment, proper documentation, and involvement of pain management experts by increasing country income. While there are efforts being made worldwide to improve the knowledge in pain assessment and management, there is a lack of resources to do so appropriately in low-middle-income countries. There is a mismatch between the existing guidelines and policies, which are mainly designed in high income countries, and the resources available in lower resourced environments.

Abstract Background Measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is a quick, reliable and painless method to guide management of hyperbilirubinemia. Studies in term and late preterm infants have found that TcB measurements from covered areas (TcB-C) during phototherapy (PHT) co-relate well with serum bilirubin levels. Limited data exists in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Methods In this prospective observational study, an opaque patch was placed on the back of an ELBW infant prior to initiation of PHT. TcB-C and TcB-E (TcB from exposed area) levels were measured at birth and at 24-h intervals for 5 days. Total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels were also measured within 30 min of obtaining TcB levels. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for data analysis. A mixed effect model was used to adjust for repeated measurements over time. The p value