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Dialogue Around Respiratory Illness Treatment

Not Applicable
Conditions
Respiratory Infection
Acute Respiratory Infection
Upper Respiratory Infection
Respiratory Disease
Interventions
Other: Online Tutorial
Other: Parent Survey
Other: Webinars
Other: Booster Sessions
Other: Feedback Reports
Registration Number
NCT02943551
Lead Sponsor
Seattle Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

Unwarranted use of antibiotics for pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) and use of second-line, broad spectrum antibiotics for bacterial ARTIs has contributed to the rapid development of resistance in many strains of bacteria. Provider-parent communication during pediatric visits for ARTIs strongly influence antibiotic prescribing rates. The overall goal of this study is to develop and test a distance learning quality improvement (QI) program called Dialogue Around Respiratory Illness Treatment - DART. The DART program aims to improve provider communication practices and treatment decisions during pediatric ARTI visits, with the ultimate goal being to decrease rates of antibiotic prescribing for these illnesses in children.

Detailed Description

The specific aims of the study are:1) to test the DART program's effectiveness on a) overall antibiotic prescribing rates for all pediatric ARTIs and b) first-line antibiotic prescribing rates for bacterial ARTIs (acute otitis media, Group A Streptococcal pharyngitis, and sinusitis), 2) to test the DART program's effectiveness in changing providers' communication practices during ARTI visits, 3) to determine visit-specific satisfaction levels for parents of children seen by study providers and assess how satisfaction changes as a function of exposure to the DART program, and 4) to assess the cost of implementing the DART program and its impact on health care expenditures.

To accomplish these aims, we propose a quasi-experimental study utilizing a stepped wedge design. In collaboration with two practice-based research networks: the electronic Pediatric Research in Office Settings (ePROS) network and the NorthShore Pediatric network, we will recruit 20 practices to participate. Over a 20 month period, the intervention will be sequentially deployed to 4 groups of practices (5 practices/group). Each practice will function as part of the control group until they receive the intervention. The DART program's effectiveness will be assessed by examining provider antibiotic prescribing rates for ARTIs (both overall and first-line), communication practices, and parent satisfaction both pre- and post-intervention exposure using survey and electronic health record data. If the DART program is effective for both reducing ARTI antibiotic prescribing to levels consistent with bacterial prevalence rates and increasing use of first-line antibiotics for bacterial ARTIs, we will have an innovative, highly disseminable QI intervention program to further address this critical public health problem.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
2728
Inclusion Criteria

Visits to enrolled providers by children aged 6 months to 10 years with an International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) diagnosis code for AOM, bronchitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, or upper respiratory infection (URI) will be included in the study. Only systemic (oral) antibiotic prescriptions on the same date as the study visit will be included in prescribing measures for each ARTI.

Exclusion Criteria

ARTI visits will be excluded from measures of prescribing if there are any competing non-ARTI bacterial diagnoses (e.g. urinary tract infection) or any antibiotic prescriptions during the 30-days prior to the index visit. Visits by children with allergies to penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics will be excluded from measures of second-line prescribing.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ProvidersFeedback ReportsPhysicians, pediatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants (referred to as providers from here forward) will be recruited from 20 practices, with a maximum of four providers participating from a single practice, for a maximum of 80 providers. Providers will receive an online tutorials, interactive group webinars, simulated booster sessions as well as feedback reports.
ProvidersBooster SessionsPhysicians, pediatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants (referred to as providers from here forward) will be recruited from 20 practices, with a maximum of four providers participating from a single practice, for a maximum of 80 providers. Providers will receive an online tutorials, interactive group webinars, simulated booster sessions as well as feedback reports.
ProvidersWebinarsPhysicians, pediatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants (referred to as providers from here forward) will be recruited from 20 practices, with a maximum of four providers participating from a single practice, for a maximum of 80 providers. Providers will receive an online tutorials, interactive group webinars, simulated booster sessions as well as feedback reports.
ProvidersOnline TutorialPhysicians, pediatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants (referred to as providers from here forward) will be recruited from 20 practices, with a maximum of four providers participating from a single practice, for a maximum of 80 providers. Providers will receive an online tutorials, interactive group webinars, simulated booster sessions as well as feedback reports.
ParentsParent SurveyThe number of parents who participate will depend on the number of providers who agree to participate at each of the 20 practices. The total could range from a minimum of 1800 parents to a maximum of 7200 parents. Throughout the study, parents at participating practice sites will be offered the opportunity to complete a DART Parent Survey after their child's visit.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in rates of overall antibiotic prescribing for all ARTI visitsTwo years pre-intervention and, on average, a 15-month period during and post intervention

This outcome will determine whether rates of prescribing antibiotics during pediatric ARTI visits change as a function of the intervention. A baseline period will be compared to periods both during the intervention and post-intervention. For each time-period, the investigators will assess the number of ARTI visits (denominator) where antibiotics were prescribed (numerator).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in rates of antibiotic prescribing for pharyngitisTwo years pre-intervention and, on average, a 15-month period during and post intervention

This outcome will determine whether rates of prescribing antibiotics during pediatric visits for pharyngitis (both non-streptococcal and streptococcal) change as a function of the intervention. A baseline period will be compared to periods both during the intervention and post-intervention. For each time-period, the investigators will assess the number of visits for pharyngitis (denominator) where antibiotics were prescribed (numerator).

Change in rates of antibiotic prescribing for viral ARTITwo years pre-intervention and, on average, a 15-month period during and post intervention

This outcome will determine whether rates of prescribing antibiotics during pediatric visits for viral ARTI (bronchitis, non-streptococcal pharyngitis, or viral upper respiratory infection) change as a function of the intervention. A baseline period will be compared to periods both during the intervention and post-intervention. For each time-period, the investigators will assess the number of viral ARTI visits (denominator) where antibiotics were prescribed (numerator).

Change in second-line prescribing rates for bacterial ARTIsTwo years pre-intervention and, on average, a 15-month period during and post intervention

These outcomes will determine whether rates of prescribing second-line antibiotics during pediatric visits for streptococcal pharyngitis, sinusitis, and acute otitis media change as a function of the intervention. A baseline period will be compared to periods both during the intervention and post-intervention. For each time-period assessed, the investigators will assess the number of visits for streptococcal pharyngitis, sinusitis, or acute otitis media (denominators) where second-line antibiotics were prescribed (numerators).

Use of Combined Negative and Positive Treatment RecommendationsOn average 6 months pre-intervention and, on average, 9 months during intervention exposure

During exposure to the intervention, provider use of combined negative and positive treatment recommendations will increase during visits for ARTI compared to baseline. Investigators will pool parent survey data and calculate rates of positive and negative treatment recommendations for each eligible visit for each period.

Use of Contingency plansOn average 6 months pre-intervention and, on average, 9 months during intervention exposure

During exposure to the intervention, provider use of contingency plans will increase during visits for ARTI compared to baseline. Investigators will pool parent survey data and calculate rates of contingency plan use for each eligible visit for each period.

Cost of intervention implementationTwo years pre-intervention and, on average, a 15-month period during and post intervention

The cost of implementing the DART intervention and the cost of any resulting utilization changes will be offset by decreased expenditures on antibiotic prescriptions.

Parent-Reported Satisfaction ScoresOn average 6 months pre-intervention and, on average, 9 months during intervention exposure

Providers exposed to the intervention will have higher parent-reported visit-specific satisfaction scores during exposure to the intervention compared to baseline. To measure satisfaction the investigators will use an adapted version of the 3-item communication composite and the 1-item global visit satisfaction scale from the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Groups (CG-CAHPS®) Survey. The survey items were adapted so that they are addressed to parents of patients rather than patients themselves. Both the 3-item composite and the 1-item global visit satisfaction scale range from 0-100 with higher scores indicating higher levels of satisfaction.

Change in health provider expenditures due to interventionTwo years pre-intervention and, on average, a 15-month period during and post intervention

The cost of implementing the DART intervention and the cost of any resulting utilization changes will be offset by decreased expenditures on antibiotic prescriptions.

Trial Locations

Locations (20)

Paragould Pediatrics

🇺🇸

Paragould, Arkansas, United States

Pediatric Medicine of Wallingford

🇺🇸

Wallingford, Connecticut, United States

A to Z Pediatric & Youth Healthcare

🇺🇸

Addison, Illinois, United States

Plateau Pediatrics

🇺🇸

Crossville, Tennessee, United States

Eureka Pediatrics

🇺🇸

Eureka, California, United States

Deerfield

🇺🇸

Deerfield, Illinois, United States

All Star Pediatrics

🇺🇸

Countryside, Illinois, United States

Gurnee

🇺🇸

Gurnee, Illinois, United States

Lincolnwood

🇺🇸

Lincolnwood, Illinois, United States

Vernon Hills

🇺🇸

Vernon Hills, Illinois, United States

Plaza Del Lago

🇺🇸

Wilmette, Illinois, United States

East End

🇺🇸

East Hampton, New York, United States

Hampton Pediatrics

🇺🇸

Southampton, New York, United States

Cornerstone Pediatrics

🇺🇸

Seguin, Texas, United States

Advance Preventive Care

🇺🇸

Bradenton, Florida, United States

Glenview

🇺🇸

Glenview, Illinois, United States

Old Orchard

🇺🇸

Skokie, Illinois, United States

Pediatric Partners of the Southwest

🇺🇸

Durango, Colorado, United States

Evanston (Central)

🇺🇸

Evanston, Illinois, United States

Evanston (Davis)

🇺🇸

Evanston, Illinois, United States

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