Table 4.
Parent ranking of individual outcomes compared with frequency of measurement in Cochrane systematic reviews
| Outcomes reported in Cochrane systematic reviews (n=35) | Frequency of reporting | Parent ranking of importance of outcomes (n=110) | Mean score±SD (/100) |
| 75th–99th percentile | |||
| Adverse events (local and systemic) | 26 | Severe complications | 94.5±14.5 |
| Admission rate (hospital, ED, ICU) | 19 | Major side effect | 86.7±18.9 |
| Physical signs | 18 | Doctor’s assessment | 83.9±19.6 |
| Clinical measures | 17 | Relapse | 81.8±18.4 |
| Clinical scores/symptom scores | 15 | Oxygen supplementation | 81.6±21.6 |
| Length of stay/time to discharge (hospital, ED, ICU) | 15 | Results from lab measures | 81.4±19.4 |
| Need for medication | 13 | ||
| 25th–74.9th percentile | |||
| Severity of symptoms | 12 | Length of hospital stay | 78.6±22.1 |
| Duration of symptoms | 10 | Trip to emergency department | 77.6±23.9 |
| Complications | 9 | Time to recovery | 77.4±17.8 |
| Rates of relapse | 8 | Hospital admission | 76.9±23.7 |
| Clinical treatment failure | 7 | Return healthcare visit | 76.9±24.0 |
| Patient improvement | 6 | Not eating/drinking well | 65.9±22.8 |
| Time to resolution of illness/time to recovery | 6 | Lack of sleep | 63.2±20.0 |
| Duration of oxygen supplementation | 5 | Length of stay in emergency department | 62.4±26.1 |
| Mortality | 5 | Minor side effect | 55.1±24.8 |
| Laboratory measures | 4 | Prescription for medication | 55.1±25.6 |
| Readmission | 4 | Appointment with GP/paediatrician | 48.4±27.8 |
| Arranging child care | 48.3±30.1 | ||
| <25th percentile | |||
| Clinical cure | 3 | Taking time off work | 47.2±28.4 |
| Compliance and tolerance | 3 | Mild complications | 46.3±23.3 |
| Quality of life/patients’ well-being | 3 | Interference with daily activities | 44.6±23.5 |
| Return healthcare visits | 3 | Treatment costs | 44.0±32.5 |
| Return to school/work | 2 | School/daycare absenteeism | 40.4±26.5 |
| GP visits | 2 | Scheduled follow-up visits | 38.1±24.8 |
| Treatment cost | 2 | Other costs | 31.3±31.3 |
| Adverse events that necessitated discontinuation of treatment | 1 | ||
| Sleep disturbance | 1 | ||
| Parental perception of child’s status | 1 | ||
| Observed response to treatment | 1 | ||
ED, emergency department; GP, general practitioner; ICU, intensive care unit.