Objectives for algorithmic decision-making systems in childhood asthma: Perspectives of children, parents, and physicians.

Objectives: To identify with children, parents and physicians the objectives to be used as parameters for algorithmic decision-making systems (ADMSs) adapting treatments in childhood asthma. Methods: We first conducted a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews to explore the objectives that children aged 8-17 years, their parents, and their physicians seek to achieve when taking/giving/prescribing a treatment for asthma. Following the grounded theory approach, each interview was independently coded by two researchers; reconciled codes were used to assess code frequency, categories were defined, and the main objectives identified. We then conducted a quantitative study based on questionnaires using these objectives to determine how children/parents/physicians ranked these objectives and whether their responses were aligned. Results: We interviewed 71 participants (31 children, 30 parents and 10 physicians) in the qualitative study and identified seven objectives associated with treatment uptake and five objectives associated with treatment modalities. We included 291 participants (137 children, 137 parents, and 17 physicians) in the quantitative study. We found little correlation between child, parent, and physician scores for each of the objectives. Each child's asthma history influenced the choice of scores assigned to each objective by the child, parents, and physician. Conclusion: The identified objectives are quantifiable and relevant to the management of asthma in the short and long term. They can therefore be incorporated as parameters for future ADMS. Shared decision-making seems essential to achieve consensus among children, parents, and physicians when choosing the weight to assign to each of these objectives.

Investigations in children with seizures visiting a pediatric emergency department: A monocenter study.

AIM: Neurological disorders, in particular seizure, are one of the reasons for admission in pediatric emergency departments (PED). We aimed to evaluate the frequency and the relevance of each investigation for seizure management in the PED. METHODS: We conducted a one-year retrospective study. Based on predefined criteria, we evaluate the appropriateness of the investigations. Logical regression was used to study the risk factors for acute symptomatic seizure (ASS). RESULTS: We identified 691 visits to the PED for an epileptic event over an annual volume of 80,320 visits. Seizures occurring in Children with epilepsy were the most frequent epileptic events seen in the PED (42%). Looking at the investigation performed in the PED, a blood electrolytes analysis was performed in 26%, neuroimaging in 9%, electroencephalography recording in 9% and LP in 5% of patients. ASSs represented 2.1% of the seizures and 0.6% of PED neurological visits. In the multivariate analysis, an initial abnormal neurological examination (OR, 20.92 [4.87; 89.81, p<0.0001) was the only risk factor that remained significantly associated with ASS. A seizure occurring in an epilepsy patient was significantly associated with an unprovoked seizure (OR, 0.12 [0.02; 0.57], p<0.008). INTERPRETATION: All ASSs were associated with a positive or abnormal examination. Moreover, there is a significant proportion of investigations requested in cases of an epileptic event that did not lead to a diagnosis or modification of the management. Based on our methods, there seems to be an overuse of investigations for seizure in children with epilepsy.

Neurological disorders encountered in a pediatric emergency department.

AIM: Neurological disorders are one of the reasons for admission in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). We aimed to evaluate the frequency of neurological disorders seen in a large tertiary PED. METHODS: We conducted a one-year retrospective study that included 1471 medical records. Inclusion was based on the main complaint recorded by nurses at triage. We also retrieved the final diagnoses and the investigations performed in the PED. RESULTS: About 3.4% of the yearly admissions was based on a neurologic complaint on arrival. The final diagnosis was of a neurologic disorder in 1237 children, 2% of which were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. An opinion from a child neurologist was requested for 33% of the children. Seizures were the most frequent reason for admission, followed by headaches. A previous visit to the PED in the past six months was a frequent finding (40%), and about one third of the patients with a neurologic diagnosis (except headaches) was already being followed by a child neurologist. INTERPRETATION: Neurological disorders are frequent in our PED and are mainly represented by seizures and headaches. Appropriate training in epileptology might be helpful for healthcare professional working in PEDs.