A qualitative examination of barriers and facilitators of pediatric enhanced recovery protocol implementation among 18 pediatric surgery services.

• Authors: Teaniese Davis, Emory University; Willemijn LA Schäfer, Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.; Sarah Blake, Emory University; Sharron Close, Emory University; Sarah N Balbale, Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.; Joseph E Perry, Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.; Raul Perez Zarate, Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.; Martha Ingram, Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.; Jennifer Strople, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.; Julie K Johnson, Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.; Jane L Holl, Department of Neurology, Biological Sciences Division and Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA.; Mehul V Raval, Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute of Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
• Journal Title: Implement Sci Commun
• Volume: Volume 3, Number 1
• Publisher: Springer Nature | 2022-08-18, Pages 91-91
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-022-00329-8
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: Enhanced recovery protocols; pediatric surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) are an evidence-based intervention to optimize post-surgical recovery. Several studies have demonstrated that the use of an ERP for gastrointestinal surgery results in decreased length of stay, shortened time to a regular diet, and fewer administered opioids, while also trending toward lower complication and 30-day readmission rates. Yet, implementation of ERPs in pediatric surgery is lagging compared to adult surgery. The study's purpose was to conduct a theory-guided evaluation of barriers and facilitators to ERP implementation at US hospitals with a pediatric surgery service. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews at 18 hospitals with 48 participants, including pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, gastroenterologists, nurses, and physician assistants. Interviews were conducted online, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. To identify barriers and facilitators to ERP implementation, we conducted an analysis using deductive logics based on the five Active Implementation Frameworks (AIFs). RESULTS: Effective practices (usable innovations) were challenged by a lack of compliance to ERP elements, and facilitators were having standardized protocols in place and organization support for implementation. Effective implementation (stages of implementation and implementation drivers) had widespread barriers to implementation across the stages from exploration to full implementation. Barriers included needing dedicated teams for ERP implementation and buy-in from hospital leadership. These items, when present, were strong facilitators of effective implementation, in addition to on-site, checklists, protected time to oversee ERP implementation, and order sets for ERP elements built into the electronic medical record. The enabling context (teams) focused on teams' engagement in ERP implementation and how they collaborated to implement ERPs. Barriers included having surgical team members resistant to change or who were not bought into ERPs in pediatric practice. Facilitators included engaging a multi-disciplinary team and engaging patients and families early in the implementation process. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to ERP implementation in pediatric surgery highlighted can be addressed through providing guidelines to ERP implementation, team-based support for change management, and protocols for developing an ERP implementation team. Future steps are to apply and evaluate these strategies in a stepped-wedge, cluster randomized trial to increase the implementation of ERPs at these 18 hospitals.