The changing pattern of primary pediatric care: update for one community

The changing pattern of pediatric practice in the Rochester, New York, community between the late 1960s and the late 1970s is described, and some extrapolations for the next decade are discussed. The child population shrunk from 243,000 in 1970 to 192,000 in 1980 and is expected to decrease further to 160,000 in 1990, possibly stabilizing at 140,000 by 2000. The number of pediatric beds as well as occupancy rates declined, but the number of full-time equivalent practicing pediatricians increased slightly. One third of them are now practicing out of neighborhood health centers or health maintenance organizations. Problems of manpower shortage and inadequate access to care for the inner city residents have long since disappeared. Utilization rates by race and socioeconomic area are similar once the children enter the care system. For "well child" care, however, there may still be lower utilization for blacks, especially for older children. The high "market penetration" for child health services by pediatricians, and the high proportion of well child visits (40%) among all visits, may be atypical for the nation as a whole, but is probably indicative of what pediatric care elsewhere will be in the future. Fewer children, and less acute care per child, will allow pediatricians to focus increasingly on preventive, developmental, and psychosocial needs.     

Progress in community pediatric research.

This review examines three major facets of progress in community pediatric research. The number of publications with this orientation has increased substantially over a 10-year period, and abstracts submitted to the Ambulatory Pediatric Association meetings have doubled. New methodologies are identified and their application to ambulatory pediatric care is described. In particular, procedures and approaches are examined in the context of recognized criteria for sociomedical research.     

Primary care relationships in pediatric hospital clinics vs private offices

OBJECTIVE: To explore residents' opinions regarding various aspects of continuity clinic in a hospital clinic vs private office, with emphasis on primary care relationships. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Residents (N = 47) who had spent time in both a clinic and an office setting were given a 49-question survey. Five-point Likert scales were used to quantify the residents' sense of quality of various aspects of training. A set of 10 statements was included to assess the degree to which residents took primary care responsibility for a cohort of patients. Residents also chose the combination of setting(s) (office, clinic, or both) that they considered optimal for their training. SETTING: Large metropolitan area. The hospital clinic, based in a freestanding children's hospital, served a primarily indigent population. The private offices (n = 20) served the surrounding suburbs and primarily middle- and upper-income families. HYPOTHESIS: Residents would perceive their clinic-based experience as significantly better than their office-based experience with respect to establishing primary care relationships with their patients. RESULTS: Residents' ratings for the primary care responsibility index were significantly higher for the clinic than for the office (mean + SD, 4.1 + 0.8 vs 2.2 + 0. 9; P<.001). Residents found many aspects of the 2 settings comparable, including overall educational value and the preceptor as a positive role model. The office was rated higher for business and managed care aspects, care of school-age children, and experience with adolescents. The clinic was rated higher for care of infants and complex psychosocial and complex medical issues. Two thirds of residents chose the combined half day in office and half day in clinic as their preferred training model. CONCLUSION: The opportunity for residents to take advantage of the unique strengths of both clinic- and office-based training may significantly improve their overall residency experience. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000;154:1209-1213.     

Issues related to providing quality pediatric palliative care in the community

The medical practitioner in the community is in a unique position to assist children and their families from the time of diagnosis with a life-threatening condition through to the end of life. The purpose of this article is to inform medical practitioners who care for children with complex, chronic, and life-limiting conditions about pediatric palliative care in the community. It is intended as a guide to improve understanding about (1) the misconceptions and barriers surrounding the provision of care in the community for children with chronic, complex, and life-limiting conditions; (2) the availability of services for care in the community; (3) challenges concerning out-of hospital do-not-attempt-resuscitation orders for children; and (4) reimbursement issues that impact the provision of care.     

Changes in pediatric diabetes care throughout a 30-yr period at one institution for pediatric diabetology in Germany

Abstract: Aims: The objective of the present study was to investigate putative changes in pediatric diabetes care at one institution between 1969 and 1998. Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to analyze all medical records from the Hospital for Children and Adolescents of the University of Leipzig, Germany, from 1969 to 1998, in order to review the number of cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus and the length of hospital stay of children with diabetes during the 30‐yr period. Results: Between 1969 and 1998, 441 children and adolescents (211 boys and 230 girls) with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 1 were treated at the Hospital for Children and Adolescents in Leipzig. The number of patients newly diagnosed increased from 55 between 1969 and 1973 to 105 between 1994 and 1998 (p < 0.0003). The initial therapy and diabetes education were carried out in an in‐patient setting. The average duration of hospital stay was 36 d in the years 1969–73, and 17 d in the years 1994–98 (p < 0.0002). This reduction of time spent in hospital was achieved by establishing structured training courses and exact planning of treatment in relation to the degree of illness at presentation. Conclusion: The number of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus receiving care in this single institution between the years 1969 and 1998 has increased continuously. With the help of quality‐assured structured training courses in a clinic for pediatric diabetes care, a dramatic reduction of the duration of hospital stay was achieved.     

Primary language of parent is associated with disparities in pediatric preventive care

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether infants of parents whose primary language is not English are less likely to receive recommended preventive care than infants of parents whose primary language is English. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all 38,793 1-year-old Medicaid-enrolled infants born in Washington state between January 1, 1999 and September 30, 2000. The main exposure was self-reported primary language of parents. Using multivariate regression, we estimated the relative risk of receiving appropriate and timely receipt of preventive care visits in the first year as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Washington state Medicaid. RESULTS: Fewer than 1 in 6 (15.4%) infants received all 6 recommended preventive care visits in their first year of life. Infants of parents whose primary language was not English were half as likely to receive all recommended preventive care visits compared with infants of parents whose primary language was English (adjusted relative risk = 0.53; 95% confidence interval = 0.49 to 0.58). This disparity was seen in white, Hispanic, and African-American infants, but not in Asian-American infants. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities based on primary language exist in receipt of recommended pediatric preventive care in white, Hispanic, and African-American infants enrolled in Medicaid.     

Direct ophthalmoscopy in pediatric emergency care.

Thorough knowledge about the basic ophthalmic examination is instrumental in the emergency department (ED) to determine the severity of eye emergencies and to develop a plan for treatment, including the possible need for an ophthalmology consultation. The direct ophthalmoscope is undoubtedly the most practical instrument available to a pediatric emergency physician for ophthalmic examination. However, the information elicited by its use is dependent on the quality of the instrument and the competency of the user. A greater understanding of the range of possibilities of the direct ophthalmoscope as a diagnostic tool will facilitate more efficient care of the pediatric patient.     

Renal replacement therapies in pediatric intensive care patients: Experiences of one center in Turkey

BACKGROUND: Despite constant improvements in caring for critically ill neonates and infants with congenital cardiac disease, sepsis, bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, acute renal failure (ARF) is an important problem in these children. ARF, severe fluid overload and inborn errors of metabolism are some of the indications for acute dialysis in infants and children. METHODS: The authors had retrospectively evaluated the medical records of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey patients who had required acute renal replacement therapy between the dates of January 2002 to February 2005. RESULTS: Medical records of 332 patients were reviewed. Acute renal replacement therapy was performed in 21 patients (6.3%; mean age, 9.6 +/- 7.4 years). Dialysis modalities were peritoneal dialysis in 15 patients (71.4%; mean age, 3.9 +/- 5.6 years) and hemodialysis in six patients (28.6%; mean age, 12.1 +/- 3.2 years). A total of 90% of patients had severe systemic disease leading to ARF. A total of 95% of patients had multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The most common cause of ARF was refractory shock. At the beginning of renal replacement therapy, 10 patients were anuric, nine patients had volume overload, seven patients had decompensated metabolic acidosis and nine patients had hypotension. The average dialysis period was 4.7 +/- 6.4 days. Mortality rate was 66.7%. Eight patients recovered from ARF and chronic renal failure had developed in one patient. CONCLUSION: In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, ARF is frequently seen together with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and the mortality rate is high. Both peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis are important renal replacement treatment modalities in patients with ARF. The age and hemodynamic status of the patients are important when choosing treatment modality; generally peritoneal dialysis is preferred in infants and toddler, while hemodialysis is preferred in older children.     

Primary school accident reporting in one education authority.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown a correlation between increased accident rates and levels of deprivation in the community. School accident reporting is one area where an association might be expected. AIMS: To investigate differences in primary school accident rates in deprived and more affluent wards, in an area managed by one education authority. METHODS: Statistical analysis of accident form returns for 100 primary schools in one education authority in Wales over a two year period, in conjunction with visits to over one third of school sites. RESULTS: Accident report rates from schools in deprived wards were three times higher than those from schools in more affluent wards. School visits showed that this discrepancy was attributable primarily to differences in reporting procedures. One third of schools did not report accidents and approximately half did not keep records of minor accidents. CONCLUSIONS: The association between school accident report rates and deprivation in the community is complex. School accident data from local education authorities may be unreliable for most purposes of collection.     

Comparison of pediatric emergency patients in a tertiary care hospital vs a community hospital

This study was conducted to compare the profile of patients attending the pediatric emergency services of a tertiary care teaching and referral hospital, Chandigarh, and a community level hospital in Ambala district, Haryana. Records of children (相似文献   

Behavioral changes in pediatric intensive care units.

OBJECTIVE--The purposes of this study were to compare the frequency and severity of manifestations of anxiety, depression, delirium, and withdrawal in pediatric patients hospitalized in intensive care unit vs ward settings and to evaluate the impact of preexisting psychopathologic disorders on the expression of these symptoms. RESEARCH DESIGN--Prospective patient series. SETTING--Tertiary care pediatric center. PATIENTS--Forty-three subjects aged 6 to 17 years hospitalized in either the pediatric or cardiovascular intensive care unit (n = 18) or on the general wards (n = 25) were recruited to participate. Subjects were excluded if their parents were unavailable for diagnostic interview or if they could not answer interview questions themselves. SELECTION PROCEDURES--Consecutive sample. INTERVENTIONS--None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS--The Hospital Observed Behavior Scale, developed for this study, was used to describe objectively subjects' manifestations of anxiety, depression, delirium, and withdrawal. The Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents and Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents-Parents were used to determine the presence of preexisting psychopathologic disorders. As measured by the Hospital Observed Behavior Scale, subjects in the intensive care unit exhibited apprehension, anxiety, detachment, sadness, and weeping more often than did patients in the ward. Behavior was also significantly influenced by severity of illness, duration of hospitalization, number of previous hospitalizations, and presence of a preexisting anxiety or mood disorder. We found the Hospital Observed Behavior Scale to have good interrater reliability. CONCLUSIONS--Our data indicate that critically ill children in the intensive care unit, children with prolonged or repeated hospitalizations, and children with preexisting anxiety and mood disorders are at greater risk than other hospitalized pediatric patients for psychological trauma and/or behavior problems that may warrant psychiatric intervention. The Hospital Observed Behavior Scale is a reliable tool to quantitate behaviors in hospitalized children.     

Candidemia in a pediatric intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence, epidemiology, and clinical characteristics of candidemia in a pediatric intensive care unit. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching and referral hospital in north India. SUBJECTS: All patients with candidemia from March 1993 to December 1996. INTERVENTIONS: Patient-related data were analyzed to study candidemia in relation to reason for fungal culture, underlying medical conditions, predisposing factors, Candida isolates, antimicrobial and antifungal treatment, and deaths. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sixty-four patients with candidemia were identified. The Candida species isolated were Candida tropicalis (48.4%), C. albicans (29.7%), C. guillermondii (14.1%), C. krusei (6.3%), and C. glabrata (1.6%). Thirty-three patients were detected by a high-risk surveillance blood culture, whereas 31 patients were detected while undergoing septic workup. Sixteen (25%) patients were asymptomatic; they recovered without any antifungal therapy and without any sequelae. Of 48 symptomatic patients, 11 died before institution of antifungal therapy; 37 received oral itraconazole (10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)). Seven (19%) of these 37 patients died. Those who recovered had sterile culture on average by day 14 (range, 4-30) and received the antifungal therapy on average for 24 days (range, 9-42 days). Overall mortality rate was 28.1%, and bivariate analysis showed significant association with Pediatric Risk of Mortality score (p =.0001), presence of symptoms (p =.003), isolation of nonalbicans Candida in general (p =.04) and C. tropicalis specifically (p =.001), and failure to give presumptive antifungal therapy (p =.055). On multivariate analysis, Pediatric Risk of Mortality score and isolation of C. tropicalis were the only significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Nonalbicans Candida accounted for 70% of candidemia in a pediatric intensive care unit. High-risk surveillance blood cultures aided diagnosis in about half the patients. Severity of illness and isolation of C. tropicalis were significant predictors of mortality.