Disparities Seen After Introduction of QI Intervention for Febrile Infants

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Aug. 19, 2024 -- Racial and ethnic disparities in quality metrics were seen after introduction of a quality improvement (QI) intervention designed to standardize care of febrile infants, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in Pediatrics.

Corrie E. McDaniel, D.O., from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study of 16,961 infants aged 8 to 60 days enrolled in a QI collaborative of 99 hospitals. Data were obtained for two periods: baseline (November 2020 to October 2021) and intervention (November 2021 to October 2022). Guideline concordance was assessed through adherence to project measures by infant race and ethnicity using proportion differences versus the overall proportion.

The researchers observed no differences in primary measures at baseline. During the intervention period, the proportion of non-Hispanic White infants with appropriate inflammatory markers obtained and documentation of follow-up from the emergency department was higher (2 and 2.5 percent difference in proportions, respectively). The proportion of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino infants with documented shared decision-making for obtaining cerebrospinal fluid was lower (−12.5 and −6.9 percent, respectively). Appropriate inflammatory markers obtained and appropriate follow-up from the emergency department were seen for a lower proportion of Hispanic/Latino infants (−2.3 and −3.6 percent, respectively).

"Given our findings, we recommend that future guidelines implement best practices for equity-focused QI and pursue continued rigorous analysis of implementation results by race and ethnicity," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords