Sarah Kyne
University Hosptial Galway, Ireland
Title: Closed loop audit on the management of acute wheeze presenting to a paediatric emergency department
Biography
Biography: Sarah Kyne
Abstract
Wheeze and cough are common presentations to the Paediatric Emergency Department. The aim of this closed loop retrospective audit was to assess compliance with the current clinical guidelines in University Hospital Galway regarding the management of acute wheeze. Emergency Presentations were first examined during an eleven week period from the 1st of July to the 18th of September 2017 (Audit Period 1) where the management of acute wheeze in the Emergency Department was evaluated. A teaching session was then held to all Consultant and NCHD staff on the 9th of November 2017. A re-audit (Audit Period 2) was then carried out between 20th of November to the 31st of December 2017. With this closed loop audit, we saw that there was an improvement from an overall 78% compliance of Acute Wheeze guidelines during Audit Period 1 to 89% in Audit Period 2. In particular, we saw an improvement in the use of meter-dose-inhalers for the moderate wheeze category. Despite this improvement; there was still an under-admission of severe wheeze children to the Paediatric Ward with a portion of these being discharged home with an asthma action plan. This audit identified a number of key areas to improve compliance with the University Hospital Galway Acute Wheeze Guidelines. Improvements were seen after the first teaching session however, with the change of staff frequently every six to twelve months among the paediatric staff; it is important to have ongoing education and audits to ensure compliance with treatment guidelines.