Model for regional collaboration: Successful strategy to implement a pediatric early warning system in 36 pediatric oncology centers in Latin America
Authors: Agulnik Asya , Gonzalez Ruiz Alejandra , Muniz‐Talavera Hilmarie , Carrillo Angela K. , Cárdenas Adolfo , Puerto‐Torres Maria F. , Garza Marcela , Conde Tania , Soberanis Vasquez Dora J. , Méndez Aceituno Alejandra , Acuña Aguirre Carlos , Alfonso Yvania , Álvarez Arellano Shillel Yahamy , Argüello Vargas Deiby , Batista Rosario , Blasco Arriaga Erika Esther , Chávez Rios Mayra , Cuencio Rodríguez María Elena , Fing Soto Ever Amilcar , Gómez‐García Wendy , Guillén Villatoro Rafael H. , Gutiérrez Rivera María de Lourdes , Herrera Almanza Martha , Jimenez Antolinez Yajaira V. , Juárez Tobias Maria Susana , López Facundo Norma Araceli , Martínez Soria Ruth Angélica , Miller Kenia , Miralda Scheybi , Morales Roxana , Negroe Ocampo Natalia , Osuna Alejandra , Pascual Morales Claudia , Pérez Fermin Clara Krystal , Pérez Alvarado Carlos M. , Pineda Estuardo , Andrés Portilla Carlos , Rios López Ligia Estefanía , Rivera Jocelyn , Sagaón Olivares Arely Saraí , Saguay Tacuri Mélida Cristina , Salas Mendoza Beatriz T. , Solano Picado Ivel , Soto Chávez Verónica , Tejocote Romero Isidoro , Tatay Daniel , Teixeira Costa Juliana , Villanueva Erika , Villegas Pacheco Marielba , McKay Virginia R. , Metzger Monika L. , Friedrich Paola , Rodriguez‐Galindo Carlos ,   the Escala de Valoración de Alerta Temprana (EVAT) Study Group
Published: September 2022

Background

Pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) aid in the early identification of deterioration in hospitalized children with cancer; however, they are under‐used in resource‐limited settings. The authors use the knowledge‐to‐action framework to describe the implementation strategy for Proyecto Escala de Valoracion de Alerta Temprana (EVAT), a multicenter quality‐improvement collaborative, to scale‐up PEWS in pediatric oncology centers in Latin America.

Methods

Proyecto EVAT mentored participating centers through an adaptable implementation strategy to: (1) monitor clinical deterioration in children with cancer, (2) contextually adapt PEWS, (3) assess barriers to using PEWS, (4) pilot and implement PEWS, (5) monitor the use of PEWS, (6) evaluate outcomes, and (7) sustain PEWS. The implementation outcomes assessed included the quality of PEWS use, the time required for implementation, and global program impact.

Results

From April 2017 to October 2021, 36 diverse Proyecto EVAT hospitals from 13 countries in Latin America collectively managing more than 4100 annual new pediatric cancer diagnoses successfully implemented PEWS. The time to complete all program phases varied among centers, averaging 7 months (range, 3–13 months) from PEWS pilot to implementation completion. All centers ultimately implemented PEWS and maintained high‐quality PEWS use for up to 18 months after implementation. Across the 36 centers, more than 11,100 clinicians were trained in PEWS, and more than 41,000 pediatric hospital admissions had PEWS used in their care.

Conclusions

Evidence‐based interventions like PEWS can be successfully scaled‐up regionally basis using a systematic approach that includes a collaborative network, an adaptable implementation strategy, and regional mentorship. Lessons learned can guide future programs to promote the widespread adoption of effective interventions and reduce global disparities in childhood cancer outcomes.

Lay summary

Pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) are clinical tools used to identify deterioration in hospitalized children with cancer; however, implementation challenges limit their use in resource‐limited settings.

Proyecto EVAT is a multicenter quality‐improvement collaborative to implement PEWS in 36 pediatric oncology centers in Latin America.

This is the first multicenter, multinational study reporting a successful implementation strategy (Proyecto EVAT) to regionally scale‐up PEWS.

The lessons learned from Proyecto EVAT can inform future programs to promote the adoption of clinical interventions to globally improve childhood cancer outcomes.