Quality improvement assessment of inpatient medical stabilization for restrictive eating disorders among adolescents during COVID-19

Abstract

University of Washington Abstract Quality improvement assessment of inpatient medical stabilization for restrictive eating disorders among adolescents during COVID-19 Jennifer Rynning Chair of the Supervisory Committee:Daniel A. Enquobahrie, PhD, MPH, MD Department of Epidemiology; Health Systems and Population Health The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the CSW Eating Disorder - Refeeding Pathway modifications during the COVID-19 pandemic on patient hospital length of stay at Seattle Children’s Hospital (SCH) from October 2017 through March 2022. This was performed through retrospective chart review of patients 8 to 17 years of age who required medical stabilization for severe malnourishment due to eating disorders. Analysis included calculated mean (SD), median, and comparisons of mean between race and ethnicity, language, age, and insurance type on length of stay (LOS) using Two-Sample t-Test or One-Way ANOVA. Additionally, a run chart was used to examine average LOS per month, upper-and-lower control limit, and overall mean. Findings indicated no significant change to LOS due to pathway modifications and a significant association was observed between race (P=.02), language (P=.04), age (P=.05) and LOS. Future research should separate patients who started at a higher calorie level from the lower calorie level and LOS because this was first encouraged and left to the discretion of the treating physician. Additionally, association between patient diagnosis, body mass index z-score, heart rate in the first 48 hours, and gender identity with LOS would provide valuable insight.