Increasing Universal Lipid Screening Among 9- to 11-Year-Old Children Through a Quality Improvement Initiative.
In 2011, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommended universal lipid screening (ULS) in 9- to 11-year-old children. This study aimed to determine whether a quality improvement (QI) initiative increased ULS. Data were abstracted from the electronic medical record to compare screening behaviors 1 year preimplementation and postimplementation. A focus group was conducted to examine physicians' attitudes. In preimplementation and postimplementation years, the number of 9- to 11-year-olds seen for well-child checks were 356 and 357, respectively. The first and second phases of the intervention were associated with a 64.3% ( P < .001) and 2.3% ( P = .75) increase in ordering, respectively. The rate of abnormal results was similar (21.4% vs 20.1%, P = .91). Physicians reported "some benefits" to screening but expressed concerns about cost-effectiveness and impact. The QI initiative resulted in high rates of ULS. Nonetheless, physicians continue to question the impact of screening on long-term health. More research on the benefits, costs, and outcomes of ULS is needed.
1 University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Leah
L
Kern
1 University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Janet
J
Crow
1 University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Christine B
CB
Williams
1 University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Eyla
E
Boies
1 University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Sheila
S
Gahagan
1 University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Kyung E
KE
Rhee
D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D008055:Lipids
lipid screen; nutrition; provider behaviors; quality improvement; universal screening