A Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program to Enhance the Safe Management of Children in an Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is an independent unit for video electroencephalogram monitoring of epilepsy patients, with the aim of capturing typical seizure events. Because of the uncontrolled seizure frequency, there may be safety risks for patients, such as falling, trauma, aspiration, status epilepticus, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. This study aims to evaluate the application effect of comprehensive safety projects on safety management in a pediatric EMU. METHODS: From June 2022 to May 2024, a preevaluation and postevaluation study was conducted at the EMU of a tertiary grade A children's specialized hospital in China. The intervention group carried out a unit-based comprehensive safety project, including nurse safety culture training, establishing a normalized mechanism for safety improvement, and developing evidence-based safety prevention strategies. RESULTS: The response time of paroxysmal events in the intervention group was shorter than that in the control group (P < .05). The scores of implementation of safety precautions and emergency measures in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group (P < .05). The nursing-related complications in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: The comprehensive unit-based safety project management mode can effectively improve the quality of EMU nursing care for children and reduce nursing-related complications.