The Impact of Implementing a Nursing-driven Clinical Pathway for Inpatient Management of Children Admitted to a Tertiary Care Centre With a Diagnosis of Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Asthma
- Sponsor
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
- Enrollment
- 113
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Length of hospital admission, in hours
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 10 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and is responsible for large portion of pediatric admissions to Canadian hospitals. There is evidence that clinical pathways allow for optimal delivery of care and may result in decreased length of stay, leading to important economic benefits. Weaning of asthma medications prescribed for asthma exacerbation is not standardized in the current model of care. Currently, weaning is performed by ward physicians; in a teaching hospital, this most often done by residents staff. Differences in practice between different physicians, delays in patient assessment and adjustment of doctor's orders, likely prolong the hospital stay for children admitted with asthma.
This study's main objective is to determine the effect of a nursing-driven clinical pathway on children's length of stay when admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of acute asthma exacerbation. The pathway will allow nurses to wean a specific type of medication(β2-agonist), as compared to the current standard of care, which dictates that a physician writes an order to wean the medication. Number of administered β2-agonist treatments will be compared between both groups, as well as asthma-related health care utilization within two weeks of hospital discharge. Nursing, physician, and patients' satisfaction with the pathway will be evaluated, and a cost minimization analysis will be performed.
This study has the potential to improve resource use efficiency, increase patient safety by avoiding administration of unnecessary medications, and ameliorate quality of care by standardizing the care of children admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute asthma exacerbation. The results of the study will be disseminated across the Canadian Health Care System with the goal of improving outcomes of children admitted to hospitals with acute asthma exacerbations.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Children admitted during the study period with a diagnosis of asthma exacerbation, reactive airway disease, or wheezing
- •Children aged 2 to 17 years
Exclusion Criteria
- •Children under the age of 2 years
- •Children with congenital heart disease
- •Children with chronic lung diseases other than asthma, including cystic fibrosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- •Children with severe neurological impairment
- •Children with other significant co-morbid disorders
- •Children whose caregivers do not understand English or French
- •Children whose caregivers cannot be reached by phone for the 14-day follow up
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Length of hospital admission, in hours
Time Frame: Duration of hospital admission, average 2-3 days
The participants will be followed for the duration of their hostpital admission, an expected average of 2-3 days.
Secondary Outcomes
- The number of inhaled or nebulized β2-agonist treatments given(Duration of hospital admission, average 2 -3 days)
- number of children seeking medical attention for asthma-related issues(Within 2 weeks of hospital discharge date)
- number of children transferred to the ICU(During admission to hospital, average 2-3 days)
- Nursing and physician satisfaction with the pathway(At study completion, expected within 2 to 3 years)
- number of families attending asthma teaching sessions(Duration of hospital admission, average 2-3 days)
- patient satisfaction with the care received in hospital(Within 2 weeks of hospital discharge date)