IMPORTANCE The 2017 Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States recommend that pediatricians assess infant peanut allergy risk and introduce peanut in the diet at age 4 to 6 months. Early introduction has the potential to prevent peanut allergy development. OBJECTIVES To measure the rates of guideline awareness and implementation and to identify barriers to and factors associated with implementation among US pediatricians. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This population-based study survey used a 29-item electronic survey instrument that was administered to pediatricians practicing across the United States from June 1, 2018, to December 1, 2018. Invitations to complete a survey were emailed to all pediatricians in the American Academy of Pediatrics vendor database. Eligible participants were nonretired US-based pediatricians providing general care to infants aged 12 months or younger. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was the prevalence of guideline implementation, which was measured by 1 survey item about awareness followed by a second item about implementation. Secondary outcomes included identification of guidelines-focused services provided by pediatricians, knowledge of the guidelines (measured with 3 clinical scenarios), barriers to guideline implementation, need for training, and facilitators of guideline implementation. RESULTS A total of 1781 pediatricians were eligible to participate and completed the entire survey. Most respondents self-identified as white (1287 [72.5%]) and female (1210 [67.4%]) individuals. Overall, 1725 (93.4%; 95% CI, 92.2%-94.5%) pediatricians reported being aware of the guidelines. Of those pediatricians who had knowledge of the guidelines, 497 (28.9%; 95% CI, 26.8%-31.1%) reported full implementation and 1105 (64.3%; 95% CI, 62.0%-66.6%) reported partial implementation. Common barriers to implementation included parental concerns about allergic reactions (reported by 575 respondents [36.6%; 95% CI, 34.3%-39.1%]), uncertainty in understanding and correctly applying the guidelines (reported by 521 respondents [33.2%; 95% CI, 30.9%-35.6%]), and conducting in-office supervised feedings (reported by 509 respondents [32.4%; 95% CI, 30.1%-34.8%]). Many pediatricians (1175 [68.4%; 95% CI, 66.1%-70.5%]) reported a need for further training on the guidelines. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This survey found that most pediatrician respondents appeared to know of the 2017 guidelines, but less than one-third of respondents reported full implementation. Results of this study may inform future efforts to eliminate barriers to guideline implementation and adherence, thereby reducing the incidence of peanut allergy in infants.

BACKGROUND: Although sensor-based monitoring of daily inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and short-acting β-agonist medications may improve asthma outcomes, the effectiveness of these interventions in diverse pediatric populations remains unclear. METHODS: Caregiver and child dyads were randomly assigned to receive inhaler sensors that allowed for caregiver and clinician electronic monitoring of medications. End points included Asthma Control Test scores (>19 indicated asthma control) and asthma health care use. Caregiver quality of life (QoL) and child ICS adherence were also assessed. Multilevel models were used to estimate adjusted changes from baseline. RESULTS: Dyads were assigned to the control (n = 127) or intervention (n = 125) arms. At the end line, the mean Asthma Control Test score increased from 19.1 (SE = 0.3) to 21.8 (SE = 0.4) among the intervention and from 19.4 (SE = 0.3) to 19.9 (SE = 0.4) among the control (Δintervention-control = 2.2; SE = 0.6; P < .01). Adjusted rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among the intervention were significantly greater (incidence rate ratioemergency department = 2.2; SE = 0.5; P < .01; incidence rate ratiohospital = 3.4; SE = 1.4; P < .01) at endline than the control. Caregiver QoL was greater among the intervention at the endline (Δintervention-control = 0.3; SE = 0.2; P = .1) than the control. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that sensor-based inhaler monitoring with clinical feedback may improve asthma control and caregiver QoL within diverse populations. Higher health care use was observed among the intervention participants relative to the control, indicating further refinement is warranted.

IMPORTANCE The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend waiting 3 to 5 days between the introduction of new complementary foods (solid foods introduced to infants <12 months of age), yet with advances in the understanding of infant food diversity, the guidance that pediatric practitioners are providing to parents is unclear. OBJECTIVE To characterize pediatric practitioner recommendations regarding complementary food introduction and waiting periods between introducing new foods. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this survey study, a 23-item electronic survey on complementary food introduction among infants was administered to pediatric health care professionals from February 1 to April 30, 2019. Responses were described among the total sample and compared among subgroups. Survey invitations were emailed to 2215 members of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the national American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Early Childhood. Participants were required to be primary medical practitioners, such as physicians, resident physicians, or nurse practitioners, providing pediatric care to infants 12 months or younger. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcome measures were recommendations on age of complementary food introduction and waiting periods between the introduction of new foods. Categorical survey items were reported as numbers (percentages) and 95% CIs. Means (SDs) were used to describe continuous survey items. RESULTS The survey was sent to 2215 practitioners and completed by 604 (response rate, 27.3%). Of these respondents, 41 were excluded because they did not provide care for infants or pediatric patients. The final analyses included responses from 563 surveys. Of these, 454 pediatricians (80.6%), 85 resident physicians (15.1%), and 20 nurse practitioners (3.6%) completed the survey. Only 217 practitioners (38.6%; 95% CI, 34.1%-44.6%) recommended waiting 3 days or longer between food introduction; 259 practitioners (66.3%; 95% CI, 61.4%-70.8%) recommended waiting that amount of time for infants at risk for food allergy development (P = .02). A total of 264 practitioners (46.9%; 95% CI, 42.8%-51.0%) recommended infant cereal as the first food, and 226 practitioners (40.1%; 95% CI, 36.1%-44.2%) did not recommend a specific order. A total of 268 practitioners (47.6%; 95% CI, 43.5%-51.7%) recommended food introduction at 6 months for exclusively breastfed (EBF) infants, and 193 (34.3%; 95% CI, 30.5%-38.3%) recommended food introduction at 6 months for non-EBF infants (P < .001); 179 practitioners (31.8%; 95% CI, 28.1%-35.8%) recommended food introduction at 4 months for EBF infants, and 239 practitioners (42.5%; 95% CI, 38.4%-46.6%) recommended food introduction at 4 months for non-EBF infants (P < .001). A need for additional training on complementary food introduction was reported by 310 practitioners (55.1%; 95% CI, 50.9%-59.1%).

No abstract

No abstract