Research
We are engaging in quality improvement and research activities to evaluate and improve outcomes of pediatric critical illness and injury in limited-resource settings.
Our Objectives
- Develop research activities to characterize current prevalence and outcomes of pediatric acute illness in limited resource settings.
- Develop research interventions to improve outcomes in pediatric critical illness in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Develop pediatric severity of illness scoring systems for low-resource settings.
Recent or Ongoing Work
Feasibility of HFNC implementation for children with acute lower respiratory tract disease in rural Kenya
High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a well-established respiratory support device in high-income countries, but to our knowledge, its use in sub-Saharan Africa had not been reported prior to this study. This feasibility study describes the implementation process of HFNC in rural Kenya.
Prevalence of Acute critical Neurologic disease in children: a Global Epidemiological Assessment – Developing Countries (PANGEA-DC)
This prospective multi-center trial, funded by the Laerdal Foundation, and conducted in several developing countries surveyed the prevalence, interventions, outcomes, and barriers to emergency and supportive care for children with traumatic brain injury and acute neurologic infections. Kenyatta National Hospital/ University of Nairobi served as one of the study sites managed by a PECC collaborative research team from University of Nairobi and University of Washington.
Improving outcomes of critically-ill children in sub-Saharan Africa
Dr. Kumar, Pediatric critical care consultant and PECC faculty at the University of Nairobi, describes her work of establishing pediatric critical care services in Kenya.
Kumar – Developing_Pediatric_Critical_Care_in_Kenya – 2019
The PECC team has implemented pilot studies on improved inpatient monitoring of critically-ill children at Kenyatta National Hospital/University of Nairobi.
Family assisted severity of illness moniroing – 2 arm feasibility study – Frontiers May 2022