Measurement Uncertainty in Clinical Validation Studies of Sensors.

Accurate clinical sensors and devices are essential to support optimal medical decision-making, and accuracy can be demonstrated through the conduct of clinical validation studies using validated reference sensors and/or devices for comparison. Typically unmeasurable, the true reference value can be substituted with an accepted physiological measurement with an associated uncertainty. We describe a basic model of measurement uncertainty that specifies the factors that may degrade the accuracy of an observed measurement value from a sensor, and we detail validation study design strategies that may be used to quantify and minimize these uncertainties.

Paediatric postdischarge mortality in developing countries: a systematic review.

Objectives: To update the current evidence base on paediatric postdischarge mortality (PDM) in developing countries. Secondary objectives included an evaluation of risk factors, timing and location of PDM.

Design: Systematic literature review without meta-analysis.

A Multi-Week Assessment of a Mobile Exergame Intervention in an Elementary School.

Background: Exergaming is potentially useful to promote physical activity in children; however, long-term effectiveness is unclear. MobileKids Monster Manor (MKMM) is a mobile exergame developed with the help of young advisors. The game wirelessly transmits physical activity data from an accelerometer to a mobile device.

Evaluation of a Novel Mobile Exergame in a School-Based Environment.

Physical inactivity is increasing among children globally and has been directly linked to the growing problems of overweight and obesity. We aim to assess the impact of a new mobile exergame, MobileKids Monster Manor (MKMM), in a school-based setting. MKMM, developed with input from youth to enhance physical activity, is wirelessly connected to an accelerometer-based activity monitor.

The PAediatric Risk Assessment (PARA) Mobile App to Reduce Postdischarge Child Mortality: Design, Usability, and Feasibility for Health Care Workers in Uganda.

Background: Postdischarge death in children is increasingly being recognized as a major contributor to overall child mortality. The PAediatric Risk Assessment (PARA) app is an mHealth tool developed to aid health care workers in resource-limited settings such as Sub-Saharan Africa to identify pediatric patients at high risk of both in-hospital and postdischarge mortality. The intended users of the PARA app are health care workers (ie, nurses, doctors, and clinical officers) with varying levels of education and technological exposure, making testing of this clinical tool critical to successful implementation.

An audit of pain management following pediatric day surgery at British Columbia Children's Hospital.

A prospective audit of 225 children was conducted to evaluate current pain management strategies both in-hospital and at home following day surgery at British Columbia Children's Hospital (Vancouver, British Columbia). Anesthetic, postanesthetic care unit and surgical day care unit records were collected to generate in-hospital data. A telephone questionnaire was administered 48 h postdischarge for at home data.

Two-stage vs mixed-effect approach to pharmacodynamic modeling of propofol in children using state entropy.

Objectives: To compare the population pharmacodynamic (PD) models of propofol in children derived using two-stage and mixed-effect modeling approaches.

Methods: Fifty-two ASA 1 and 2 children aged 6-15 years presenting for gastrointestinal endoscopy were administered a loading dose of 4 mg·kg(-1) of propofol intravenously at an infusion rate determined by a randomization schedule. Using the plasma concentration predicted by the Paedfusor pharmacokinetic (PK) model, the propofol effect on state entropy (SE) was modeled using the two-stage and the mixed-effect modeling approaches, and the final population PD models were compared with each other in terms of their prediction performance, using median percentage and absolute percentage errors as well as mean absolute weighted error as metrics.

Spontaneous respiration during intravenous anesthesia in children.

Purpose Of Review: Maintaining spontaneous respiration during intravenous anesthesia for investigative and surgical procedures may avoid the need for airway instrumentation and reduce the risk of desaturation. In addition, when performing airway endoscopic procedures in children, maintaining spontaneous respiration while using intravenous anesthesia can reduce the need for endotracheal intubation. This facilitates improved access to the smaller airway, allows assessment of the dynamic function of the airway, and reduces exposure of personnel to inhaled anesthetic agents.