Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38974174›Full record

ArticleOTO open

Carbon Footprint Reduction Associated With Multidisciplinary Pediatric Airway Clinics: A Program Evaluation Study.

Alina Zgardau, Kalpesh Hathi, James Fowler, Tara Mullowney, April Price, Murad Husein, M Elise Graham, Agnieszka Dzioba, Edward Madou, Julie E Strychowsky

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in OTO open. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Planetary Health in Otolaryngology: A Call to Depollute Care.Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale
    Article
  2. 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

10 authors.

Alina ZgardauSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry Western University London Ontario Canada.
Kalpesh HathiDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia Canada.
James FowlerDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Western University London Ontario Canada.
Tara MullowneyDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Respirology Western University London Ontario Canada.
April PriceDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Respirology Western University London Ontario Canada.
Murad HuseinDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Western University London Ontario Canada.
M Elise GrahamDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Western University London Ontario Canada.
Agnieszka DziobaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Western University London Ontario Canada.
Edward MadouDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Western University London Ontario Canada.
Julie E StrychowskyDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Western University London Ontario Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-5460-3155

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Health care is a significant contributor to the climate crisis. Multidisciplinary clinics (MDC) may reduce carbon emissions by combining multiple appointments into one. This is the first program evaluation study to quantify the carbon footprint associated with multidisciplinary pediatric airway clinics. Study Design: Retrospective. Setting: Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Center, London, Canada. Methods: Pediatric airway MDC allows patients to see otolaryngology and respirology in one appointment. The carbon and financial savings (Canadian Dollars) of all patients attending the MDC from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022 were calculated. Patient postal codes and institutional parking rates were inputted into the CASCADES carbon accounting tool. Total distance was divided into unsustainable (vehicles) and sustainable (transit, walking, cycling) transportation to calculate carbon emissions. Travel costs included cost/kilometer for vehicles (maintenance, license/registration, insurance, fuel) and costs/ride for transit. Results: A total of 560 MDC appointments for 300 patients saved 77,785 km. Total carbon emissions saved from travel averted was 16.21 tonnes. The total carbon emissions saved, minus public transit, was 15.60 tonnes. Using the Natural Resources Canada Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, 16.21 tonnes are approximately equivalent to 5 passenger vehicles, 6906 L of gasoline, 3.8 homes' energy, and 10.8 homes' electricity use for one year, 36.6 barrels of oil consumed, and 675 propane cylinders. Travel costs of $28,891.83 (no parking), $30,519.40 ($4 minimum parking fee), or $33,774.55 ($12 maximum parking fee) were saved. Conclusion: MDC effectively reduced carbon emissions and offered patients financial savings. Similar models can be adapted across institutions to help mitigate climate change.

Indexed as

carbon savingsclimate changeenvironmental sustainabilityotolaryngology

Identifiers

PMID38974174
PMCPMC11222738

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.