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Evaluation of linear measurement and growth plotting in an inpatient pediatric setting

Terri H Lipman1, Donna Euler, Goldie R Markowitz

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. lipman@nursing.upenn.edu

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|July 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Inpatient admissions offer a chance to check children's growth. However, accurate measurement and plotting on growth charts were inconsistent, indicating a need for staff education.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Growth Monitoring
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

  • Routine growth monitoring is essential for pediatric health.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual measurements.
  • Primary care access varies, potentially delaying growth disorder identification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess linear measurement practices for admitted children in an urban pediatric hospital.
  • To identify the frequency and accuracy of growth measurements during inpatient stays.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 200 randomly selected pediatric inpatients.
  • Data collection on whether measurements were taken, plotted on growth charts, and plotted correctly.

Main Results:

  • Only 57% of children had measurements taken during their admission.
  • Fewer than half (42%) had measurements plotted on growth charts.
  • Correct plotting occurred in only 24% of cases.

Conclusions:

  • Inpatient admissions are an underutilized opportunity for growth assessment.
  • Significant gaps exist in the accurate measurement and plotting of pediatric growth data.
  • Targeted, ongoing education for nursing staff is required to improve measurement accuracy and adherence to guidelines.

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