Journal of paediatrics and child health
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J Paediatr Child Health · Jun 2009
Comparative StudyWard reduction of gastroschisis in a single stage without general anaesthesia may increase the risk of short-term morbidities: results of a retrospective audit.
Ward reduction of gastroschisis in a single stage without the need for general inhalational anaesthesia (ward reduction) has been reported by some authors to be effective and safe. We introduced this practice to our neonatal unit 2 years ago. ⋯ These results raise concerns over the role of ward reduction of gastroschisis in a single sitting without the use of GA. Randomised trials with appropriate design and sample size are needed before embracing this method as a standard practice.
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The aim of this study was to report on the severity and incidence of children injured by treadmills and to promote the implementation of safety standards. ⋯ This study found that paediatric treadmill friction injuries are severe and increasing in incidence. Australian standards should be developed, implemented and mandated to reduce this preventable and severe injury.
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J Paediatr Child Health · May 2009
Implementation of a checklist to assist in the rapid identification of seriously ill children in the emergency department: an observational study.
Interventions are required to expedite the identification and treatment of seriously ill children in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the implementation of a features of serious illness in children checklist (FSIC) for ED nursing staff would be associated with a reduction in the presentation-to-treatment time (PTTT) among children who required hospital admission and active treatment. ⋯ The implementation of a checklist to assist ED nursing staff in the identification of seriously ill children was not effective in reducing the delay between presentation and the initiation of treatment among children who were admitted to the hospital. Larger studies are required to determine whether similar strategies are effective among a more critically ill subgroup. Consideration should also be given to alternative strategies to expedite the identification and treatment of seriously ill children in the ED.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Apr 2009
Comparative StudyPaediatric pain assessment: differences between triage nurse, child and parent.
To compare the severity of paediatric pain as assessed by the triage nurse, child and parent. ⋯ Relative to the children and parents, triage nurses assign significantly lower paediatric pain scores. The findings may have important implications for the management of paediatric pain which may need to be based upon the children's or parent's assessment rather than that of the nurse.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Mar 2009
Simulated parents: developing paediatric trainees' skills in giving bad news.
In curriculum documents for medicine in undergraduate, post-graduate and continuing professional development, there is now a focus on communication skills. The challenges are to place communication skills in the crowded curriculum and then to construct and sustain a programme that uses an evidence-based approach to the teaching and learning of communication skills. For 6 years, we have conducted a programme that involves simulated parents supporting junior medical staff to refine their skills in communication, particularly in giving parents bad news. The aim of our study was to obtain a better understanding of the trainees' experiences of the programme. ⋯ The evaluation highlighted the value of an early-career experiential programme to highlight the importance of communication skills in post-graduate paediatrics practice.