Cost-effectiveness of the PECARN rules in children with minor head trauma.

ABSTRACT:

Study objective

To improve the efficiency and appropriateness of computed tomography (CT) use in children with minor head trauma, clinical prediction rules were derived and validated by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). The objective of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the PECARN traumatic brain injury prediction rules to usual care for selective CT use.

Methods

We used decision analytic modeling to project the outcomes, costs, and cost-effectiveness of applying the PECARN rules compared with usual care in a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 children with minor blunt head trauma. Clinical management was directed by level of risk as specified by the presence or absence of variables in the PECARN traumatic brain injury

SUBMITTER: Nishijima DK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4275394 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature