Clinical practices among healthcare professionals concerning neonatal jaundice and pale stools

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2017

Autores

Silva, ES (Autor) Outra; Silva, HM (Autor) Outra; Lijnzaat, LA (Autor) Outra; Melo, C (Autor) FMUP; Costa, E (Autor) FFUP; Martins, E (Autor) Outra; Lopes, AI (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: European Journal of Pediatrics

Vol. 176

Páginas: 361-369

ISSN: 0340-6199

Editora: Springer Nature

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 4 Citações

Scopus - 6 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00M-CKR

DOI: 10.1007/s00431-016-2847-y

Abstract (EN): Jaundice and pale stools are major indicators of neonatal liver disease. Prognosis depends on timely diagnosis and management. We evaluated the clinical practices among healthcare professionals concerning jaundiced newborns and their ability to recognize pale stools. We supplied a questionnaire and a panel with eight photographs of stools, both locally validated, to physicians and nurses of the National Healthcare Service. Analysis was conducted according to professional status, specialization and years of experience of professionals and level of healthcare. Questionnaires were administered to 266 participants (100 physicians, 166 nurses). The decision to send patients to medical observation depended on the intensity of jaundice for a significant percentage of nurses. Concerning jaundiced newborns breastfed and otherwise healthy, 28.9% of physicians would never request a conjugated bilirubin assay, and only 43.3% would request it after 14 days old; for those with other signs/symptoms of disease, only 69.1% of physicians would request it immediately. Multiple linear regression analysis identified specialization as an independent variable significantly associated with the ability to recognize pale stools. Conclusion: A significant percentage of healthcare professionals assumed clinical practices that preclude the timely recognition of cholestasis/pale stools, reinforcing the idea of educational needs. Specialization, rather than years of experience of professionals, was associated with better skills and practices.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 9