Archives of disease in childhood
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'Liberating the NHS' and the new outcomes framework place information at the heart of the management of the National Health Service (NHS) and develop further the quality framework defined by Lord Darzi. In support of children, paediatricians have a responsibility to understand the informatics agenda and to ensure that data collection is as accurate as possible. There are particular difficulties in supplying a comprehensive health record for children and providing them with the benefits of access to their health records. It is essential that paediatricians work to ensure that these problems are overcome and that children do not miss out because of legal, practical and ethical issues which can be overcome, but often are permitted to stand in the way of real improvements.
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Postindustrial human activity has contributed to rising atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases causing global warming and climate change. The adverse effects of climate change affect children disproportionately, especially in the developing world. Urgent action is necessary to mitigate the causes and adapt to the negative effects of climate change. Paediatricians have an important role in managing the effects of climate change on children and promoting sustainable development.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Improved junior paediatric prescribing skills after a short e-learning intervention: a randomised controlled trial.
Medication errors are common, with junior doctors accounting for the majority in acute healthcare. Paediatrics is uniquely challenging, but the evidence base to guide prescribing education is limited. The authors set out to develop a short, educationally sound, low cost e-learning resource for paediatric prescribing to improve junior doctors' prescribing skills and to evaluate its effectiveness. ⋯ This short e-learning resource significantly improved the paediatric prescribing skills of junior doctors. Outcomes were maintained at 3 months, suggesting the utility of low cost, low fidelity, educationally sound e-learning interventions. However, the direct impact on patient outcomes following this intervention has yet to be determined.
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Multicenter Study
Treatment for paediatric low cardiac output syndrome: results from the European EuLoCOS-Paed survey.
To characterise current hospital practice and use of prescribing resources related to drug treatment for low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in children with open heart surgery (OHS) in Europe. ⋯ Drug treatment for LCOS in children with OHS across Europe is highly variable, possibly partly reflecting the lack of evidence and prescribing standards on the use of medicines. Milrinone, epinephrine, dopamine and dobutamine are mostly used, and should be prioritised for future research on LCOS treatment. Such research should be aimed at increasing the level of evidence for clinical practice guidelines to improve the standard of care.