Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-19
Published on: July 5, 2022
Rapid response in the COVID-19 pandemic: a Delphi study from the European Pediatric Dialysis Working Group
Fabian Eibensteiner1, Valentin Ritschl2, Gema Ariceta3
1Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Gastroenterology, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Expert pediatric nephrologists rapidly shared knowledge on COVID-19 care for children with chronic kidney disease. This Delphi study provided timely guidance on testing, therapeutics, and clinical management during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.
- Limited data existed for evidence-based recommendations in this vulnerable population.
- Urgent need for expert consensus on managing pediatric CKD during the COVID-19 health emergency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To rapidly collect and synthesize expert knowledge on managing children with CKD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To establish timely, evidence-based practice recommendations for pediatric nephrologists.
- To address critical care aspects specific to pediatric CKD patients affected by COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A four-round, multi-center Delphi exercise involving 13 European centers.
- Utilized the European Pediatric Dialysis Working Group (EPDWG) network.
- Employed mixed methods, including qualitative analysis and descriptive statistics.
Main Results:
- Identified 13 key COVID-19 related topics requiring guidance for pediatric CKD care.
- Key themes included testing strategies, therapeutic use, transmission prevention, and clinical care modifications.
- Observed variations in center-specific practices influenced by local regulations and guidelines.
Conclusions:
- Qualitative expert knowledge is crucial when real-time quantitative data is scarce during a pandemic.
- The Delphi exercise effectively analyzed pediatric nephrologists' responses to COVID-19 using mixed methodologies.
- Rapid knowledge sharing is vital for optimal medical management of specific patient groups in international healthcare systems.
Background:
COVID-19 was declared a global health emergency. Since children are less than 1% of reported cases, there is limited information to develop evidence-based practice recommendations. The objective of this study was to rapidly gather expert knowledge and experience to guide the care of children with chronic kidney disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
A four-round multi-center Delphi exercise was conducted among 13 centers in 11 European countries of the European Pediatric Dialysis Working Group (EPDWG) between March, 16th and 20th 2020. Results were analyzed using a mixed methods qualitative approach and descriptive statistics.
Results:
Thirteen COVID-19 specific topics of particular need for guidance were identified. Main themes encompassed testing strategies and results (n = 4), changes in use of current therapeutics (n = 3), preventive measurements of transmission and management of COVID-19 (n = 3), and changes in standard clinical care (n = 3). Patterns of center-specific responses varied according to regulations and to availability of guidelines.
Conclusions:
As limited quantitative evidence is available in real time during the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, qualitative expert knowledge and experience represent the best evidence available. This Delphi exercise demonstrates that use of mixed methodologies embedded in an established network of experts allowed prompt analysis of pediatric nephrologists' response to COVID-19 during this fast-emerging public health crisis. Such rapid sharing of knowledge and local practices is essential to timely and optimal guidance for medical management of specific patient groups in multi-country health care systems such as those of Europe and the US.
More Related Videos
09:03Nasal Brushing Sampling and Processing Using Digital High Speed Ciliary Videomicroscopy – Adaptation for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published on: November 7, 2020
09:36Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
Published on: September 24, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:30Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
01:20Acute Kidney Injury V: Interprofessional Care
01:27Dialysis
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...