6014 Improving clinical standards and parental understanding in the management of acute gastroenteritis in children

Objectives Gastroenteritis, a commonly occurring short-term ailment in young children, causes gastrointestinal tract inflammation and symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal cramps.1 Most cases are caused by enteric viruses, with a smaller percentage by bacteria or protozoa. The presence of severe diarrhoea can result in swift dehydration. The NICE clinical guideline (CG84) covers gastroenteritis management in under 5s. This guideline covers four key components of standard care: dehydration assessment, oral rehydration salt (ORS) as an adjunctive fluid therapy for children at risk of dehydration, blood tests only when necessary, and weight monitoring.2 The primary aim of the audit is to assess and evaluate the existing practices in the Emergency Department (ED) and Children and Young People Emergency Department (CYPED) in relation to established standards of care. Methods An audit was conducted in August 2023. A retrospective review was conducted on 52 medical records, with the aim of assessing adherence to the four standards of care. The method used for sample selection in the audit process was simple random sampling. Results A total of 73% of the children had assessment of their hydration status documented. No child had bloods taken unless clinically indicated (100% success rate). The audit also revealed that a small proportion of children, specifically 11.5%, received oral rehydration solution (ORS) as their initial treatment. In 18% of cases, weight measurements were recorded for children attending the ED/CYPED. Conclusion In conclusion, our findings indicate that there exists a need for improvement in the management of acute gastroenteritis among children. As part of the subsequent phase of improvement, the audit findings were distributed to both the Emergency Department and Paediatrics Department, as well as establishment of a dedicated task force that incorporates ED/CYPED nurses with the aim to enhance adherence to the established standards of care for the management of gastroenteritis. Parents were advised to scan the QR code as a means to accessing Healthier Together, a national platform providing additional information regarding the management of acute gastroenteritis. Lastly, a poster was designed with the purpose of raising awareness and disseminated among healthcare professionals and parents in the ED/CYPED and the Paediatrics department. (A copy will be included as part of any poster presentation) References Kliegman RM, Nelson WE. (2007) Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2009). Diarrhoea and vomiting caused by gastroenteritis in under 5s: diagnosis and management. NICE Guideline No. 84. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg84/resources/diarrhoea-and-vomiting-caused-by-gastroenteritis-in-under-5s-diagnosis-and-management-pdf-975688889029.