Pediatric Emergency Care Research Networks: A Research Agenda

Background: Pediatric emergency care research networks have evolved substantially over the past two decades. Some networks are specialized in specific areas (e.g., sedation, simulation) while others study a variety of medical and traumatic conditions. Given the increased collaboration between pediatric emergency research networks, the logical next step is the development of a research priorities agenda to guide global research in emergency medical services for children (EMSC).

Objectives: An international group of pediatric emergency network research leaders was assembled to develop a list of research priorities for future collaborative endeavors within and between pediatric emergency research networks.

Methods: Before an in-person meeting, we used a modified Delphi approach to achieve consensus around pediatric emergency research network topic priorities. Further discussions took place on May 15, 2018, in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM) consensus conference "Aligning the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Agenda to Reduce Health Outcome Gaps." Here, a group of 40 organizers and participants met in a 90-minute "breakout" session to review and further develop the initial priorities.

Results: We reached consensus on five clinical research priorities that would benefit from collaboration among the existing and future emergency networks focused on EMSC: sepsis, trauma, respiratory conditions, pharmacology of emergency conditions, and mental health emergencies. Furthermore, we identified nonclinical research priorities categorized under the domains of technology, knowledge translation, and organization/administration of pediatric emergency care.

Conclusion: The identification of pediatric emergency care network research priorities within the domains of clinical care, technology, knowledge translation and organization/administration of EMSC will facilitate and help focus collaborative research within and among research networks globally. Engagement of essential stakeholders including EMSC researchers, policy makers, patients, and their caregivers will stimulate advances in the delivery of emergency care to children around the globe.