Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26452704›Full record

ArticleJournal of pediatric surgery2016

Variability in the structure and care processes for critically injured children: A multicenter survey of trauma bay and intensive care units.

Katherine T Flynn-O'Brien, Leah L Thompson, Christine M Gall, Mary E Fallat, Tom B Rice, Frederick P Rivara

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pediatric surgery, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Systems-based care of the injured child: Technical report.The journal of trauma and acute care surgery · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Katherine T Flynn-O'BrienHarborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Box #359960, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104; Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Box # 356410, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195. Electronic address: flynnobr@uw.edu.
Leah L ThompsonHarborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Box #359960, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
Christine M GallVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLC, 470W Sunset Blvd #440, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Mary E FallatDepartment of Surgery, University of Louisville and Kosair Children's Hospital, 315 E. Broadway, Suite 565, Louisville, KY 40202.
Tom B RiceVirtual Pediatric Systems, LLC, 470W Sunset Blvd #440, Los Angeles, CA 90027; Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9000W. Wisconsin Ave., MS #681, Milwaukee, WI 53226.
Frederick P RivaraHarborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Box #359960, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Box #359774, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.

Funding

Institute of Translational Health SciencesUL1TR000423 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI DISIS, MARY L. · 2012 to 2016
$49.4M
Pediatric Injury Research Training ProgramT32HD057822 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI CAROLYN A MC CARTY, Ali Rowhani-Rahbar · 2010 to 2026
$4.0M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR000423NCATS NIH HHS UL1TR000423NICHD NIH HHS T32 HD057822NICHD NIH HHS T32-HD057822
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEvaluate national variation in structure and care processes for critically injured children.

methodsInstitutions with pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) that treat trauma patients were identified through the Virtual Pediatric Systems (n=72). Prospective survey data were obtained from PICU and Trauma Directors (n=69, 96% response). Inquiries related to structure and care processes in the PICU and emergency department included infrastructure, physician staffing, team composition, decision making, and protocol/checklist use.

resultsAbout one-third of the 69 institutions were ACS-verified Level-1 Pediatric Trauma Centers (32%); 36 (52%) were state-designated Level 1. The surgeon was the primary decision maker in the trauma bay at 88% of sites, and in the PICU at 44%. The intensivist was primary in the PICU at 30% of sites and intensivist consultation was elective at 11%. Free-standing pediatric centers used checklists more often than adult/pediatric centers for DVT prophylaxis (75% vs. 50%, p=0.039), cervical spine clearance (75% vs. 44%, p=0.011), and pain control (63% vs. 34%, p=0.024). Otherwise, protocols/checklists were infrequently utilized by either center type.

conclusionVariability exists in structure and care processes for critically injured children. Further investigation of variation and its causal relationship to outcomes is warranted to provide optimal care.

Indexed as

AdolescentChildChild, PreschoolCritical CareEmergency Medical ServicesFemaleHealthcare DisparitiesHealth Care SurveysHumansInfantInfant, NewbornIntensive Care Units, PediatricMaleOutcome and Process Assessment, Health CareProspective StudiesTrauma CentersCritical careOutcome and process assessmentPatient carePediatricsQualityTrauma

Identifiers

PMID26452704
PMCPMC12766855

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.