Quality measurement and surveillance platforms in critically ill children: A scoping review

Abstract

Background/aim: The objective of this study was to describe current surveillance platforms which support routine quality measurement in paediatric critical care.

Method: Scoping review. The search strategy consisted of a traditional database and grey literature search as well as expert consultation. Surveillance platforms were eligible for inclusion if they collected measures of quality in critically ill children.

Results: The search strategy identified 21 surveillance platforms, collecting 57 unique outcome (70%), process (23%), and structural (7%) quality measures. Hospital-associated infections were the most commonly collected outcome measure across all platforms (n = 11; 52%). In general, case definitions were not harmonised across platforms, with the exception of nationally mandated hospital-associated infections (e.g., central line-associated blood stream infection). Data collection relied on manual coding. Platforms typically did not provide an evidence-based rationale for measures collected, with no identifiable reports of co-designed, consensus-derived measures or consumer involvement in measure selection or prioritisation.

Conclusions: Quality measurement in critically ill children lacks uniformity in definition which limits local and international benchmarking. Current surveillance activities for critically ill children focus heavily on outcome measurement, with process, structural, and patient-reported measures largely overlooked. Long-term outcome measures were not routinely collected. Harmonisation of paediatric intensive care unit quality measures is needed and can be achieved using prioritisation and consensus/co-design methods.

Keywords: Hospital-acquired complications; Hospital-acquired infections; Intensive care; Paediatrics; Quality measurement; Surveillance.