Original ArticleThe Applicability and Efficacy of Guidelines for the Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Outpatient Children: A Field-Randomized Trial on Primary Care Pediatricians
Section snippets
Methods
This study was designed as an open, prospective, controlled, randomized intervention trial. The intervention consisted of a training course on the management of children with AGE based on the “nine pillars of good treatment of AGE” put forward by the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Working Group on Acute Diarrhea.3
The study was performed in collaboration with the Federazione Italiana Medici Pediatri (FIMP), the largest association of primary
Results
Out of the 150 pediatricians enrolled, 149 (74 in group A and 75 in group B) completed the study. In terms of geographic distribution, 52% of the pediatricians were from southern Italy, 26.5% were from northern Italy, and 21.0% were from central Italy, and the distribution was similar in the 2 groups. Pediatrician work experience was similar in the 2 groups (group A: median, 16.6 years; range 2-30 years; group B: median, 17.1; range 1-31 years; P > .05). One pediatrician withdrew from the study.
Discussion
AGE is a frequent problem in early childhood and carries a correspondingly high burden of problems and costs for families and society as a whole.16 Optimal management of AGE should be a priority for all physicians in practice. This randomized controlled study evaluated the applicability and efficacy of global management of children with AGE.
Our study was based on a simple, inexpensive training course. The guidelines were based on the “option of doing the least”: ORS administration, early
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Treatment of acute gastroenteritis in private practice: A survey of 641pediatricians
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2011, Berman's Pediatric Decision Making: Expert ConsultAcute diarrhea
2011, Berman's Pediatric Decision Making
Trial registration at anzctr.org.au (identifier: ACTRN12608000145303).
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.