Broad differences in care were primarily based on variation in hospital-level practice, not patient severity of illness.
Evidence-based data supporting best practices for inpatient croup management are sparse. Now, researchers have assessed variation in inpatient management of croup and its association with patient outcomes using retrospective data from 26 U.S. children's hospitals.
The study cohort comprised 6236 children aged >6 months and <14 years who were admitted for croup. Data on first admissions were used. Investigators assessed the use of not routinely indicated resources (NRIRs) across hospitals. NRIRs included parenteral steroids (instead of oral), viral diagnostic studies, chest radiographs (CXRs), lateral neck radiographs, and antibiotics.
Use of NRIRs varied greatly — by up to fivefold (for parenteral steroids) — between hospitals. Receipt of ≥2 …
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)