TY - JOUR
T1 - Large variation in clinical practice amongst pediatricians in treating children with recurrent abdominal pain
AU - van Kalleveen, Michael W.
AU - Noordhuis, Elise J.
AU - Lasham, Carole
AU - Plötz, Frans B.
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate intra- and inter-observer variability and guideline adherence amongst pediatricians in treating children aged between 4 and 18 years referred with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) without red flags. Methods: The first part of the study is a retrospective single-center cohort study. The diagnostic work-ups of eight pediatricians were compared to the national guidelines. Intra- and interobserver variability were examined by Cramer's V test. Intra-observer variability was defined as the amount of variation within a pediatrician and inter-observer variability as the amount of variation between pediatricians in the application of diagnostic work-up in children with RAP. Prospectively, the same pediatricians were requested to provide a report on their management strategy with a fictitious case to prove similarities in retrospective diagnostic work-up. Results: A total of 10 patients per pediatrician were analyzed. Retrospectively, a (very) weak association between pediatricians' diagnostic work-ups was found (0.22), which implies high inter-observer variability. The association between intra-observer diagnostic was moderate (range, 0.35-0.46). The Cramer's V of 0.60 in diagnostic work-up between pediatricians in the fictitious case implied the presence of a moderately strong association and lower interobserver variability than in the retrospective study. Adherence to the guideline was 66.8%. Conclusion: We found a high intra- and inter-observer variability and moderate guideline adherence in daily clinical practice amongst pediatricians in treating children with RAP in a teaching hospital.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate intra- and inter-observer variability and guideline adherence amongst pediatricians in treating children aged between 4 and 18 years referred with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) without red flags. Methods: The first part of the study is a retrospective single-center cohort study. The diagnostic work-ups of eight pediatricians were compared to the national guidelines. Intra- and interobserver variability were examined by Cramer's V test. Intra-observer variability was defined as the amount of variation within a pediatrician and inter-observer variability as the amount of variation between pediatricians in the application of diagnostic work-up in children with RAP. Prospectively, the same pediatricians were requested to provide a report on their management strategy with a fictitious case to prove similarities in retrospective diagnostic work-up. Results: A total of 10 patients per pediatrician were analyzed. Retrospectively, a (very) weak association between pediatricians' diagnostic work-ups was found (0.22), which implies high inter-observer variability. The association between intra-observer diagnostic was moderate (range, 0.35-0.46). The Cramer's V of 0.60 in diagnostic work-up between pediatricians in the fictitious case implied the presence of a moderately strong association and lower interobserver variability than in the retrospective study. Adherence to the guideline was 66.8%. Conclusion: We found a high intra- and inter-observer variability and moderate guideline adherence in daily clinical practice amongst pediatricians in treating children with RAP in a teaching hospital.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85066152214&origin=inward
U2 - https://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2019.22.3.225
DO - https://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2019.22.3.225
M3 - Article
SN - 2234-8646
VL - 22
SP - 225
EP - 232
JO - Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition
JF - Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition
IS - 3
ER -