Animated Picture to Improve Provider Adherence to CT Scan for Head Injury Rule

It is difficult for Pediatric Emergency Department providers to recognize clinically significant head injuries that are likely to require neurosurgical intervention or close monitoring from those that can be safely discharged.

Research Question How do a combination of education and an animated picture depicting the PECARN CT Head Injury rules impact compliance to these rules and reduce unnecessary head CT scans?

Design This is a within subject, repeated measures study design.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients presenting to Children's ED will be included if they:
• Are between 0 and 18 years of age (inclusive)
• Receive a discharge diagnosis of head injury
• Present to the ED within 24 hours of the head injury
• GCS of 14 or greater

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be excluded if they :
• Had a CT scans done in an outside transferring institution
• Have obvious penetrating head injuries
• Had a trivial injury mechanisms such as ground-level falls or walking or running into stationary objects
• Have no signs or symptoms of head trauma other than scalp abrasions and lacerations.
• Have known brain tumors, pre-existing neurological disorders complicating assessment, ventricular shunts, bleeding disorders