Rethinking Blood Testing in Pediatric Cancer Patients: A Quality Improvement Approach.

Introduction: The overuse of blood tests burdens the healthcare system and can detrimentally impact patient care. Risks of frequent blood sampling include infection and clinician-induced anemia, which can negatively impact patients and their families. Pediatric cancer patients are particularly vulnerable as they are immunocompromised with a small blood volume. Four blood tests had become a daily practice. Therefore, we aimed to reduce the number of blood tests taken per bed day within the inpatient pediatric cancer unit by 15% within 8 months. Methods: This quality improvement project combined several strategies to reduce test frequency and empower clinicians on the rationale for blood test ordering. Recommendations were developed collaboratively presented in a summary table. Targeted behavior-change methodology built engagement and momentum for the change. All clinicians were challenged to STOP and THINK about why a test is necessary for each patient. The primary outcome measure was the frequency of the tests taken per bed day. Frequency was compared between pre- and postimplementation plus follow-up periods across 2019-2021. Results: 26,941 blood tests were captured in 1,558 admissions. The intervention led to an overall blood test reduction of 37% over 8 months. Liver Function Tests were the standout, with a 52% decrease in test frequency. Conclusions: A strategy incorporating education and culture change, combined with clear guidance on testing frequency, significantly reduced the ordering frequency of blood tests without increased patient harm.

Rationalised premedication practice for blood product transfusions: A single-centre quality initiative.

AIM: Blood and platelets are scarce resources that are an essential part of the supportive care for paediatric cancer patients. There are many inherent risks involved with transfusions including acute transfusion reactions (ATRs). Following an initial ATR, prophylactic medications are commonly given prior to subsequent transfusions. However, there are risks with medication administration as well as negative implications for the health system. Our aim was to prevent the automatic prescribing of premedications prior to blood and platelet transfusions for ATRs. We hypothesised this would not increase the risk of harm. METHODS: Our intervention was to eliminate automatic prescribing of intravenous corticosteroids and intravenous promethazine prior to a transfusion. This was approached through a behaviour change model and the implementation of recommended prescribing guidelines. Three Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles refined the guidelines to align with clinicians' needs and build support through co-design. Data gathered on individual patients receiving transfusions and reaction rates during the trial were compared to international data. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients received a transfusion during the trial. Eleven patients either had a previous reaction or experienced their first reaction during this time. All patients followed the guidelines and had either no premedication or an oral antihistamine premedication. There were no breakthrough reactions using oral antihistamines. The overall reaction rate was 1.33%, which aligns with the reported data on ATRs internationally. CONCLUSION: A restricted prescribing approach to pharmaceutical cover prior to blood and platelet transfusions can be implemented effectively in a paediatric cancer population, without an increase in the risk of harm to the patients.

An analysis of the therapeutic benefits of genotyping in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a high-risk procedure that is offered, with curative intent, to patients with malignant and nonmalignant disease. The clinical benefits of personalization of therapy by genotyping have been demonstrated by the reduction in transplant related mortality from donor-recipient HLA matching. However, defining the relationship between genotype and transplant conditioning agents is yet to be translated into clinical practice. A number of the therapeutic agents used in stem cell transplant preparative regimens have pharmacokinetic parameters that predict benefit of incorporating pharmacogenomic data into dosing strategies. Busulfan, cyclophosphamide, thio-TEPA and etoposide have well-described drug metabolism pathways, however candidate gene studies have identified there is a gap in the identification of pharmacogenomic data that can be used to improve transplant outcomes. Incorporating pharmacogenomics into pharmacokinetic modeling may demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of genotyping in transplant preparative regimen agents.