PARC study

Study Summary

Appendicitis is the most common non-traumatic surgical emergency in children. It can be difficult to diagnose; it is painful and has the potential to result in adverse patient outcomes. The majority of knowledge related to appendicitis in children is derived from study-specific cohorts that focus on individual aspects of care, and are often performed in departmental “silos”. These studies can be limited in that they do may consider the multi-disciplinary influence on the care of the patient, nor the progression over the illness/management process. The PARC study is a Quality Improvement Initiative. It is focused on the development of a comprehensive collaborative data registry with an overarching goal to improve the outcomes and experiences of children with suspected appendicitis. The data registry follows children from their initial contact with a Calgary hospital until completion of care for the illness episode.

Objectives

1. To generate new knowledge regarding the presentation, diagnosis, and management of appendicitis
2. To evaluate the quality of care currently provided across the illness episode and thus identify areas for improvement
3. To implement changes in practice and evaluate patient outcomes and experiences

Principal Study Investigator: Dr. Graham Thompson

Study Coordinator: Dori-Ann Martin

Study Team: Dr. Mary Brindle, Dr. Robin Eccles, Dr. Anna Shawyer