Predictors and Direct Cost Estimation of Long Stays in Pediatric Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia: A Mixed Methods Study

Mohamad-Hani Temsah,1,2,* Noura Abouammoh,2,3,* Ayman Al-Eyadhy,1,2 Yazed AlRuthia,4,5 Marwah Hassounah,3 Fahad Alsohime,1,2 Ali Alhaboob,1,2 Mohammed Almazyad,1,2 Majed Alabdulhafid,1,2 Fadi Aljamaan,2,6 Khalid Alhasan,1,2 Amr Jamal2,3,7 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Family and Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Pharmacoeconomics Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Critical Care, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Evidence-Based Health Care & Knowledge Translation Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Amr Jamal Email amrjamal@ksu.edu.saBackground: Several factors influence patients’ length of stay (LOS) in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). This study explored the factors and cost associated with long LOS among pediatric patient population across various PICUs and pediatric surgical cardiac intensive care units (SCICUs).Methods: This is a multi-center concurrent mixed-methods study that was conducted in different PICUs and SCICUs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The units’ leaders were qualitatively interviewed to explore the potential factors contributing to long LOSs in PICUs and SCICUs, and deductive content analysis was used. Microcosting was utilized to estimate the inpatient costs for a sample of long-stay patients (LSPs) and the potential cost savings if those patients were transferred to step-down care units (SDUs) for those who stayed ≥ 60 days.Results: Ten (90%) leaders of PICUs and SCICUs who were invited had participated. Changing the admission criteria