Critically Appraised Topics -- Evidence-based Practice Guidelines from Children's Mercy | Children's Mercy Kansas City

Critically Appraised Topics (CAT) are valuable tools for providers. Unlike a clinical practice guideline, a CAT answers one specific question. The EBP CAT development process follows:

Submission of a specific question that emerges from a business or practice scenario.
Medical librarians develop a search strategy and perform a literature search.
Question originator determines which scientific literature will be appraised and evaluated for validity and applicability; EBP Scholars analyze the identified scientific literature.
EBP staff member synthesize the literature.
CAT is sent back to the question originator to support or change current practice.
CAT is placed on the evidence-based practice website.

To enhance your understanding of GRADE terminology found in the Evidence-Based Practice departments synthesized literature.

Learn how to interpret a forest plot.

Critically Appraised Topics

Jump to first letter of Clinical Critically Appraised Topic

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|K|L|M|N|O|P
R|S|T|U|V|W

A

Acetaminophen oncology & BMT: Summary October 2019 (PDF)

Acute Otitis Media: Antibiotic Length 2022 (PDF)

Acute Otitis Media: Low Dose Versus High Dose Amoxicillin 2022 (PDF)

Acute Otitis Media: Tympanostomy Antibiotics 2022 (PDF)

Adhesive removers in the ICN: Summary November 2019 (PDF)

Administering intramuscular injections: Summary August 2019 (PDF)

Antibiotic treatment after medical: Summary April 2020 (PDF)

Arterial line catheters: Summary June 2021 (PDF)

Artificial sweeteners: Toews, Lohner, de Gaudry, and Sommer - 2019 (PDF)

Asthma Exacerbation CPG -Albuterol via metered dose inhaler dosing (weight-based vs. age-based dosing) 2022 (PDF)

Asthma Exacerbation CPG - Dexamethasone vs. prednisolone dosing for acute asthma exacerbation in children 2022 (PDF)

B

Behavioral changes with Red Dye 40: Summary November 2011 (PDF)

Behavioral health: Summary June 2020 (PDF)

Bladder scanners in the ICN: Summary May 2020 (PDF)

Bronchiolitis: Albuterol Use 2023 (PDF)

Bronchiolitis: Hypertonic Saline 2023 (PDF)

Bronchiolitis: Oral Feeding for Hospitalized Patients 2023 (PDF)

C

Cardiopulmonary bypass temperature monitoring: Summary October 2019 (PDF)

Changing central line adapters: Summary December 2018 (PDF)

Chest tube clearance: Summary October 2018 (PDF)

Cleaning high touch areas: Summary February 2018 (PDF)

Code strong screening instrument: Summary December 2019 (PDF)

Community acquired pneumonia antibiotic treatment duration: Summary December 2023 (PDF)

Creatine supplement in concussions: Summary July 2021 (PDF)

Croup CPM - In patients 6 months to 6 years of age with croup (viral laryngotracheitis) seen in an acute care setting or emergency department (ED), which patient characteristics are indicative for hospital admis 2022 (PDF)

Croup CPM - Observation time post racemic epinephrine dosing in children with croup 2022 (PDF)

D

Dairy intake and body composition: Summary November 2018 (PDF)

DCN influencing incentive spriometry use: Summary December 2018 (PDF)

Dexamethasone and brain tumors: Summary May 2020 (PDF)

Diabetic Ketoacidosis Continuous Glucose Monitors 2022 (PDF)

Diabetic Ketoacidosis Fluids 2022 (PDF)

Direct care nurses (DCN) as antimicrobial stewards: Summary December 2018 (PDF)

E

Effects of trauma informed care on DCN: Summary December 2018 (PDF)

Endoscope cleaning: Summary February 2015 (PDF)

ESI score for dislodged g-tubes: Summary November 2019 (PDF)

F

Fish oil and concussions: Summary March 2021 (PDF)

G

Gastric residuals: Summary November 2019 (PDF)

Gastric Sleeve ERAS - Ketorolac in gastric bypass patients and risk of bleeding 2021 (PDF)

Gastric Sleeve ERAS - Use of Transverse Abdominal Plane (TAP) blocks and reduction of pain in laparoscopic gastric bypass patient 2021 (PDF)

H

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC): Summary January 2018 (PDF)

Human milk-derived fortifier use in very low birth weight infants; summary August 2021 (PDF)

I

Infrared thermometers: Summary October 2020 (PDF)

Inhaled mucolytics as preventative therapy: Summary August 2024 (PDF)

Initiating enteral feedings after medical NEC: Summary April 2020 (PDF)

Isolation needs for patients with ESBL: Summary April 2020 (PDF)

K

Kangaroo mother care: Summary February 2018 (PDF)

L

Lean education strategies: Summary December 2018 (PDF)

Low lactose formula in neonatal abstinence syndrome: Summary February 2021 (PDF)

Low/non-fat dairy: Summary January 2018 (PDF)

M

Mouthwash and oral care oncology: Summary May 2020 (PDF)

Multi-use books in waiting rooms: Summary January 2020 (PDF)

N

Nail polish use and bacteria in the hands of the healthcare worker: Summary January 2022 (PDF)

Nasogastric/orogastric tube length estimation/verification: Summary January 2020 (PDF)

P

Pancrelipase use with eating disorders: Summary June 2021 (PDF)

Parent personal protective equipment: Summary July 2019 (PDF)

Pressure injury risk assessment: Summary 2021 (PDF)

Prevention of unplanned extubations in the ICN: Summary January 2018 (PDF)

Procalcitonin in Bacterial Pneumonia: Summary June 2024 (PDF)

Procalcitonin in Sepsis and Bacterial Infection: Summary February 2024 (PDF)

R

Respiratory scores: Summary June 2020 (PDF)

S

Safe to sleep: Summary July 2019 (PDF)

Saline vs heparin to lock central lines and effect on line-associated complications: Summary January 2022 (PDF)

Skin Soft Tissue Infection: Antibiotics for Abscesses 2021 (PDF)

SSI postoperative surgical bundle: Summary June 2020 (PDF)

STI CPG - Screening considerations for patients with sexually transmitted infections 2021 (PDF)

Surgical preparation solution dry time: Summary July 2019 (PDF)

Surgical site infection colon surgery: Summary April 2019 (PDF)

Surgical site infection prevention - timing of preoperative vancomycin administration: Summary August 2020 (PDF)

T

Thermometers: Summary December 2018 (PDF)

Trach go bag: Summary December 2018 (PDF)

U

Use of donor breast milk and donor milk derived human milk fortifier in the ICN: Summary February 2018 (PDF)

V

Vestibular disorders testing: Summary March 2020 (PDF)

W

Workplace violence in the ED: Summary January 2020 (PDF)

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Archived Critically Appraised Topics

Critical Appraisal Topics in this area are over six years old, and new evidence may have emerged that could alter the review’s findings

Jump to first letter of Clinical Critically Appraised Topic

A|B|C|D|E|F|H|I|L|N|O|P|R|S|U|V

A

Aquatic therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Summary February 2015 (PDF)

B

Breastfeeding implications on obesity: Summary June 2013 (PDF)

Bronchiolitis: Racemic Epinephrine 2016 (PDF)

C

Central line flushing solution efficacy: Summary February 2015 (PDF)

CHG vs. standard bathing: Summary January 2014 (PDF)

Cleansing agent utilization efficacy prior to foley insertion: Summary October 2014 (PDF)

Community acquired pneumonia antibiotic treatment length: Summary December 2020

Constraint-induced movement therapy efficacy: Summary September 2013 (PDF)

D

Discharge readiness: Summary December 2017 (PDF)

Dr. Brown baby bottles: Summary October 2017 (PDF)

E

ECPR: Summary September 2017 (PDF)

EEG lead safety: Summary December 2015 (PDF)

Electromagnetic interference on medical devices: Summary September 2012 (PDF)

Emergency contraception: Summary April 2016 (PDF)

F

Frenulectomy: Summary January 2016 (PDF)

H

Hypercholesterolemia and dietary stanols and/or sterols: Summary August 2012 (PDF)

I

Implications of not consuming organic foods: Summary January 2012 (PDF)

In the child with an irritable hip: Summary September 2014 (PDF)

Intermittent straight urinary catheterization in children with neurogenic bladder: Summary October 2017 (PDF)

L

Latex versus silicone urinary catheter safety: Summary November 2013 (PDF)

N

Negative pressure wound therapy efficacy: Summary June 2011 (PDF)

Newly licensed registered nurse residency program: Summary November 2012

O

Omega-3 fatty acid (n3 FA) supplementation for serum lipids: Summary September 2014 (PDF)

OR traffic: Summary September 2016 (PDF)

Ototopical quinolones versus ototopical aminoglycosides for suppurative otitis media and acute otitis externa: Summary August 2016 (PDF)

P

Petroleum product utilization with oxygen therapy: Summary September 2013 (PDF)

PIV infiltration scale: Summary December 2015 (PDF)

Plasmablade: Summary September 2016 (PDF)

R

Reuse of reprocessed single use devices: Summary June 2017 (PDF)

S

SCC endoscope disinfection: Summary February 2016 (PDF)

Standardizing bedside nursing handoffs: Summary October 2016 (PDF)

Suicide observation: Summary April 2018 (PDF)

U

Urinary catheter efficacy, cost effectiveness, and antimicrobial resistance: Summary May 2013 (PDF)

V

Ventilator associated pneumonia bundle efficacy: Summary August 2012 (PDF)

Jump to top of Expired Critically Appraised Topics