title: [Management of patients under 18years of age by adult intensive care unit professionals: Level of training, workload, and specific challenges].
abstract: In routine practice, intensive care physicians rarely have to manage children under 18years of age, particularly those under 15. This study's objectives were to assess the quality of training in pediatrics of adult intensive care teams, to document the workload generated by care of pediatric patients, and to identify the difficulties encountered in managing minors as patients. A survey was administered in Lower Normandy from 4 April 2012 to 1 September 2012. Physicians, residents, nurses, and nurses' aides practicing in one of the nine intensive care units of Lower Normandy were asked to complete an electronic or paper format questionnaire. This questionnaire assessed their level of pediatric training, the workload management of pediatric patients entailed, and the challenges posed by these patients. One hundred and nine questionnaires were returned (by 26 attending physicians, 18 residents, 38 nurses, and 27 nurses' aides). Eighty-three of the respondents (76%) had no experience in a pediatric unit of any kind. Forty-two percent thought that the pediatric age range lies between 3months and 15years of age. However, more than 50% of respondents would like the upper limit to be 16years or even older. Ninety-three respondents (85%) estimated having some exposure to pediatric patients in their routine practice, but this activity remained quite low. Seventy-three (67%) reported difficulties with the management of these young patients. This survey provides current information regarding the level of training of adult intensive care unit professionals and their concerns about managing patients under 18years of age, both in terms of workload and specific challenges.
authors.affiliation: Service de réanimation et surveillance continue pédiatrique, centre hospitalier universitaire de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14003 Caen, France; Service de soins intensifs pédiatriques, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175, chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1C4 Montréal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: david_brossier@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brossier
authors.affiliation: Service de réanimation et surveillance continue pédiatrique, centre hospitalier universitaire de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14003 Caen, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villedieu
authors.affiliation: Service de réanimation et surveillance continue pédiatrique, centre hospitalier universitaire de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14003 Caen, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Letouzé
authors.affiliation: Service de réanimation et surveillance continue pédiatrique, centre hospitalier universitaire de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14003 Caen, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pinto Da Costa
authors.affiliation: Service de réanimation et surveillance continue pédiatrique, centre hospitalier universitaire de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14003 Caen, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jokic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007318:Inservice Training; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000193:education; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult