# Implementation Fidelity and Benefits of the Critical Care Pediatric Guideline Adherence and Outcomes Program in Traumatic Brain Injury

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2021 · $681,383

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health crisis for children in the US and worldwide.
There are no proven therapies to treat TBI, and evidenced-based guidelines have been
developed over the past 2 decades to guide best current practices. Yet, implementation
strategies are lacking. In prior work, we found that adherence to the TBI guidelines was
associated with 6% better outcomes in 5 leading U.S. academic centers. However, TBI
guideline adherence remains low and the guidelines have limitations related to
recommendation applicability across health care systems and across countries. In
response, we developed and pilot tested an innovative multilevel Pediatric Guideline
Adherence and Outcomes (PEGASUS) program to increase TBI guideline adherence.
Preliminary data show that barriers to TBI guideline adherence are remediable and TBI
guideline based intensive care benefits outcomes. This proposal is a collaboration between
U.S. and Argentine TBI clinical investigators dedicated to understanding TBI guideline
adherence. The overarching aim of this proposal is guided by the Theoretical Domain
Framework. We propose to conduct a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial of the
PEGASUS program (intervention) and to improve TBI guideline adherence (main outcome)
in severe pediatric TBI across six Argentine study sites. Using mixed-methods, we propose
3 Specific Aims: 1) Determine the relationship between PEGASUS program
implementation and TBI guideline adherence (Aim 1a), and assess system, provider,
patient, implementation and guideline factors associated with TBI guideline adherence (Aim
1b), 2) Create a value stream map that readily identifies value added process of care
associated with TBI guideline adherence, and 3) Use computer simulation to develop and
disseminate a real world best practices blueprint for TBI guideline adherence. This is a
necessary advance and a step towards implementing guideline-based TBI care for children
who suffer from TBI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10085265
- **Project number:** 5R01NS106560-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL JAMES BELL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $681,383
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10085265

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10085265, Implementation Fidelity and Benefits of the Critical Care Pediatric Guideline Adherence and Outcomes Program in Traumatic Brain Injury (5R01NS106560-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10085265. Licensed CC0.

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