Linda Y. Fu

Infant Sleep Location: Associated Maternal and Infant Characteristics with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Prevention Recommendations

OBJECTIVE To identify factors associated with infant sleep location. STUDY DESIGN Demographic information and infant care practices were assessed for 708 mothers of infants ages 0 to 8 months at Women, Infants and Children centers. Generalized linear latent mixed models were constructed for the outcome, sleeping arrangement last night (room-sharing without bed-sharing versus bed-sharing, and room-sharing without bed-sharing versus sleeping in separate rooms). RESULTS Two-thirds of the mothers were African-American. A total of 48.6% mothers room-shared without bed-sharing, 32.5% bed-shared, and 18.9% slept in separate rooms. Compared with infants who slept in separate rooms, infants who room-shared without bed-sharing were more likely to be Hispanic (odds ratio [OR], 2.58, 95% CI 1.11-5.98) and younger (3.66- and 1.74-times more likely for infants 0-1 month old and 2-3 months old, respectively, as compared with older infants). Compared with infants who bed-shared, infants who room-shared without bed-sharing were more likely to be 0 to 1 month old (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.05-2.35) and less likely to be African-American (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26-0.70) or have a teenage mother (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.23-0.58). CONCLUSIONS Approximately one-third of mothers and infants bed-share, despite increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The factors associated with bed-sharing are also associated with SIDS, likely rendering infants with these characteristics at high risk for SIDS.

Apparent life-threatening events: an update.

Based on strong research evidence, the most common causes of apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) are gastroesophageal reflux, lower respiratory tract infection, and seizure. • The minimum initial diagnostic panel for ALTE should include complete blood cell (CBC) count with differential; blood levels of C-reactive protein,glucose, sodium, potassium, urea, calcium,magnesium, ammonia, lactate, and pyruvate; arterial blood gas determination, urinalysis, and toxicology screen; electrocardiography; and assessments for Bordetella pertussis and respiratory syncytial virus in season. • Other testing should be done based on the infant’s clinical presentation and clinician’s degree of suspicion.• Most infants should be hospitalized for cardiorespiratory monitoring for 23 hours after an ALTE. • There is strong evidence that newborns are at higher risk of ALTE and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)within the first 24 hours after birth and therefore should be frequently monitored as much as possible while room sharing with their mothers. • Evidence suggests that maternal smoking may place an infant for higher risk of SIDS after an ALTE.

Search Engine Ranking, Quality, and Content of Web Pages That Are Critical Versus Noncritical of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine.

PURPOSE Online information can influence attitudes toward vaccination. The aim of the present study was to provide a systematic evaluation of the search engine ranking, quality, and content of Web pages that are critical versus noncritical of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. METHODS We identified HPV vaccine-related Web pages with the Google search engine by entering 20 terms. We then assessed each Web page for critical versus noncritical bias and for the following quality indicators: authorship disclosure, source disclosure, attribution of at least one reference, currency, exclusion of testimonial accounts, and readability level less than ninth grade. We also determined Web page comprehensiveness in terms of mention of 14 HPV vaccine-relevant topics. RESULTS Twenty searches yielded 116 unique Web pages. HPV vaccine-critical Web pages comprised roughly a third of the top, top 5- and top 10-ranking Web pages. The prevalence of HPV vaccine-critical Web pages was higher for queries that included term modifiers in addition to root terms. Compared with noncritical Web pages, Web pages critical of HPV vaccine overall had a lower quality score than those with a noncritical bias (p < .01) and covered fewer important HPV-related topics (p < .001). Critical Web pages required viewers to have higher reading skills, were less likely to include an author byline, and were more likely to include testimonial accounts. They also were more likely to raise unsubstantiated concerns about vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Web pages critical of HPV vaccine may be frequently returned and highly ranked by search engine queries despite being of lower quality and less comprehensive than noncritical Web pages.

Strategies for Improving Vaccine Delivery: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: New emphasis on and requirements for demonstrating health care quality have increased the need for evidence-based methods to disseminate practice guidelines. With regard to impact on pediatric immunization coverage, we aimed to compare a financial incentive program (pay-for-performance [P4P]) and a virtual quality improvement technical support (QITS) learning collaborative. METHODS: This single-blinded (to outcomes assessor), cluster-randomized trial was conducted among unaffiliated pediatric practices across the United States from June 2013 to June 2014. Practices received either the P4P or QITS intervention. All practices received a Vaccinator Toolkit. P4P practices participated in a tiered financial incentives program for immunization coverage improvement. QITS practices participated in a virtual learning collaborative. Primary outcome was percentage of all needed vaccines received (PANVR). We also assessed immunization up-to-date (UTD) status. RESULTS: Data were analyzed from 3,147 patient records from 32 practices. Practices in the study arms reported similar QI activities (∼6 to 7 activities). We found no difference in PANVR between P4P and QITS (mean ± SE, 90.7% ± 1.1% vs 86.1% ± 1.3%, P = 0.46). Likewise, there was no difference in odds of being UTD between study arms (adjusted odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.68 to 1.52, P = .93). In within-group analysis, patients in both arms experienced nonsignificant increases in PANVR. Similarly, the change in adjusted odds of UTD over time was modest and nonsignificant for P4P but reached significance in the QITS arm (adjusted odds ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.60, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Participation in either a financial incentives program or a virtual learning collaborative led to self-reported improvements in immunization practices but minimal change in objectively measured immunization coverage.

Context Matters Practitioner Perspectives on Immunization Delivery Quality Improvement Efforts

Uneven adherence to immunization guidelines might leave some communities vulnerable to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. To examine factors related to implementation of immunization delivery best practices, we analyzed responses to monthly surveys and debriefing interviews from 16 diverse pediatric practices engaged in a year-long virtual learning collaborative. The collaborative provided a toolkit, online learning sessions, performance feedback, and conference calls with a quality improvement coach. Participants used iterative plan-do-study-act cycles to implement self-selected changes in immunization practices. Descriptive statistics were applied to quantitative data; qualitative data were analyzed using a framework approach. Impediments to implementing guidelines included difficulties with electronic record systems, rigid management structures, competing priorities, and parental resistance. Facilitators included linkage with regional immunization registries, positive social interactions, and performance feedback. Findings suggest that improving immunization delivery requires not only awareness of recommendations and training in improvement methods but also efforts to ameliorate contextual factors that impede immunization delivery.