Table 1. Characteristics of Pediatric Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
| Characteristics | No. (%) |
|---|---|
| No. of pediatric ICUs | 18 |
| Beds | |
| 6-11 | 9 (50) |
| 12-30 | 9 (50) |
| Fellowship training provision | 15 (72.2) |
| Intensivist coverage | 18 (100) |
| Unit type | |
| General | 11 (61.1) |
| General and cardiac mixed | 5 (27.8) |
| Cardiac | 2 (11.1) |
| Sedation assessment validated tool in place prior to studya | 13 (72.2) |
| Sedation protocol in place prior to studyb | 4 (22.2) |
| Ventilation weaning protocol in place prior to studyc | 3 (16.7) |
a
Either the COMFORT original scale or the COMFORT behavioral scale was used prior to the study and during the protocol intervention. The COMFORT scale assesses pain and sedation to determine if the child is adequately comfortable or in need of more or less medication to maintain adequate ventilation.
b
Sedation protocols already in place prescribed the reduction of sedatives, whereas the protocol intervention recommended that sedatives should be adjusted to achieve an appropriate score on the COMFORT scale.
c
Weaning protocols already in place prescribed stepwise reductions in ventilator support, whereas the protocol intervention prescribed daily screening and a spontaneous breathing trial.