Study characteristics
| Publication, country | Study design | Study period | Type of centre, N | Study objective | Volume of ED | No. of participants | Mean age (range), yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames et al.,9 2019, United States | Retrospective cohort | Data collection: Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2013 | ED, 426 | To determine the proportion of patients presenting to EDs with various levels of pediatric readiness and to evaluate if ED pediatric readiness is associated with mortality | No. of ED centres, annual pediatric ED volume n = 153, Low (< 1800) visits n = 113, Medium (1800–4999) visits n = 69, Medium-to-high (5000–9999) visits n = 91, High (> 10000) visits | 20 483 | Mean = 8 (0–18) |
| Ray et al.,18 2018, United States | Cross-sectional | Data collection: Jan. 1 to Aug. 23, 2013 | ED, 4090 | To determine the geographic accessibility of EDs with high pediatric readiness by assessing the percentage of US children living within a 30-minute drive time of an ED with high pediatric readiness | No. of ED centres, ED volume n = 739, Low (< 4999) visits n = 490, Medium (5000–9999) visits n = 2861, High (> 10000) visits | NA | Mean = NA (0–17) |
| Newgard et al.,19 2021, United States | Retrospective cohort | Data collection: Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2017 | ED, 832 | To evaluate the association between ED pediatric readiness, in-hospital mortality, and in-hospital complications among injured children presenting to US trauma centres | No. of ED centres, annual pediatric ED volume n = 160, Low (1–4900) visits n = 86, Medium (4900–8400) visits n = 105, Medium-to-high (8400–13800) visits n = 186, High (> 13 800) visits n = 295, Unknown visits | 372 004 | Mean = NA Median = 10 (4–15) |
| Lieng et al.,20 2021a, United States | Cross-sectional | Data collection: Jan. 1, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2013 | ED, 283 | To determine the association between potentially avoidable transfers (PATs) and ED pediatric readiness scores and the score’s associated components | No. of ED centres, ED volume: median (IQR) n = 275, 6820 (3148–11042) n = 269, 6876 (3167–11 046) | 25 601 | Mean = NA (0–18) |
| Lieng et al.,21 2021b, United States | Cross-sectional | Data collection: 2011 to 2012 | ED, 54 | To determine the association of pediatric readiness scores with the odds of interfacility transfer among a cohort of noninjured children (< 18 yr) presenting to EDs in small rural hospitals in the state of California | No. of ED centres, ED volume by WPRS: median (IQR) n = 44, WPRS (≤ 70): 2194 (1350–4412) visits n = 10, WPRS (> 70): 2696 (1618–4694) visits | 135 388 | Mean = NA (0–18) |
| Newgard et al.,22 2022, United States | Retrospective cohort | Data collection: Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2017, with follow-up to December 2018 | ED, 146 | To evaluate the association between ED pediatric readiness and 1-year survival among injured children presenting to 146 trauma centres | No. of ED centres, annual pediatric ED volume n = 37, Low (101–5699) visits n = 36, Medium (5700–12 199) visits n = 36, Medium-to-high (12200–19999) visits n = 37, High (> 20000) visits | 88 071 | Mean = NA Median = 11 (0–17) |
| Newgard et al.,23 2023, United States | Cross-sectional | Data collection: Jan. 1, 2012, to Dec. 31, 2019 | ED, 2261 | To quantify the number of children transported by 911 emergency medical services to high readiness EDs, additional children within 30 min of a high-readiness ED, and the estimated effect on survival | No. of ED centres, annual ED volume by WPRS: median (IQR) n = 583, WPRS (22–57): 11 751 (4399–27 586) visits n = 559, WPRS (58–70): 18 937 (7537–36 631) visits n = 570, WPRS (71–85): 21757 (9968–47 400) visits n = 549, WPRS (86–100): 45 633 (23 818–77 415) visits | 808 536 | Mean = NA Median = 10 (0–17) |
| Balmaks et al.,24 2020, Latvia | Prospective cohort | Data collection: June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018 Recruitment: Sept. 24, 2017, to Apr. 26, 2018 | ED, 16 | To assess the quality of pediatric acute care and pediatric readiness and determine their association with patient outcomes using a patient registry | No. of ED centres, annual ED volume: median (IQR) n = 5, Low (< 1800) visits: 1238 (809–11916) n = 6, Medium (1800–4999) visits: 2746 (1965–3000) n = 4, Medium-to-high (5000–9999) visits: 7703 (5572–7160) n = 1, High (> 10000) visits: 63905 | 254 | Mean = NA Median = 5 (1–13) |
Note: ED = emergency department, IQR = interquartile range, NA = not available, WPRS = weighted pediatric readiness score.