The Pediatric Gastroenteritis Patient Outcome Research Study

Aims

The study had three goals. They were to determine the following:

1) What are the alternative treatments for pediatric gastroenteritis appropriate for use in the U.S.? Which are the most effective and cost-effective treatments for a given clinical presentation.

2) What are the determinants of variation and what is the range of variation in treatments and outcomes. In particular,

a) Which children are at risk for poor outcomes that are potentially preventable, and which children receive treatments that are inappropriate and/or not cost-effective?

b) What patient provider factors prevent timely intervention and the use of the most effective and cost-effective treatment strategies?

3) What changes in practice patterns and the health care delivery system would improve health outcomes and cost-effectiveness of care?