Featured Publications
US National Trends in Pediatric Deaths From Prescription and Illicit Opioids, 1999-2016
Gaither JR, Shabanova V, Leventhal JM. US National Trends in Pediatric Deaths From Prescription and Illicit Opioids, 1999-2016. JAMA Network Open 2018, 1: e186558. PMID: 30646334, PMCID: PMC6324338, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.6558.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid poisoningPediatric deathsMortality rateUS national trendsPublic health problemPediatric mortality rateNational trendsPublic health officialsIllicit opioidsPrescription opioidsAge-specific mortality ratesOpioid deathsOpioid epidemicMAIN OUTCOMEOpioidsHealth problemsOpioid crisisPoisson regressionSynthetic opioidsDisease controlMortality dataHealth officialsDeathMedical facilitiesChildren
2024
The Circumstances Surrounding Fatal Pediatric Opioid Poisonings, 2004-2020.
Gaither J, McCollum S, Bechtel K, Leventhal J, Mintz S. The Circumstances Surrounding Fatal Pediatric Opioid Poisonings, 2004-2020. Pediatrics 2024, 154 PMID: 39484873, PMCID: PMC11528886, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-067043n.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChild's own homeOpioid poisoningOwn homeHistory of maltreatmentSubstance use/abuseAge groupsDied of homicidePrimary caregiversYears of ageOpioid prescribingChildren 0Opioid fatalitiesHousehold factorsPrescription opioidsSubstance useChild maltreatmentCaregiversDecedentsReporting SystemIllicit fentanylMaltreatmentChildrenFatal opioid poisoningsAgeHome
2022
Circumstances of injury in children with abusive versus non-abusive injuries
Eysenbach L, Leventhal JM, Gaither JR, Bechtel K. Circumstances of injury in children with abusive versus non-abusive injuries. Child Abuse & Neglect 2022, 128: 105604. PMID: 35339797, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105604.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
The impact of a child abuse guideline on differences between pediatric and community emergency departments in the evaluation of injuries
Shum M, Asnes AG, Leventhal JM, Gaither JR, Bechtel K, Powers E, Tiyyagura G. The impact of a child abuse guideline on differences between pediatric and community emergency departments in the evaluation of injuries. Child Abuse & Neglect 2021, 122: 105374. PMID: 34737120, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105374.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPediatric emergency departmentEvaluation of infantsHigh-risk injuriesGuideline implementationEmergency departmentInjury categoriesCommunity emergency departmentsEvaluation of injuriesMedian ageIncreased oddsOral injuriesCPS reportingOlder infantsAmerican AcademyInjuryInfantsChild physical abuseSignificant differencesCategory 1S testingPhysical abuseGuidelinesLittle informationAbuseService reportingFactors Contributing to Early Intervention Evaluation
Chan G, Gaither JR, Leventhal JM, Leary CB, Fenick AM. Factors Contributing to Early Intervention Evaluation. Academic Pediatrics 2021, 22: 227-232. PMID: 33746044, DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.03.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTime of referralInner-city pediatric primary care clinicPediatric primary care clinicMultivariable logistic regression modelEarly intervention evaluationChronic medical illnessPrimary care clinicsYears of ageLogistic regression modelsEarly intervention programsNon-English speaking familiesCare clinicsMedical illnessEI referralReferral characteristicsMedical historyInitial referralMedical recordsFirst referralPediatric careReferral systemAverage ageEI evaluationReferralAdditional months
2020
The Use of Experts to Evaluate a Child Abuse Guideline in Community Emergency Departments
Shum M, Asnes A, Leventhal JM, Bechtel K, Gaither JR, Tiyyagura G. The Use of Experts to Evaluate a Child Abuse Guideline in Community Emergency Departments. Academic Pediatrics 2020, 21: 521-528. PMID: 33160081, DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2020.11.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGuideline implementationExpert recommendationsIndeterminate casesCommunity emergency departmentsEvaluation of infantsGold standard testPostguideline implementationProvider adherenceCommunity EDRetrospective reviewED providersEmergency departmentCPS reportingClinical decisionTeam consultationInfantsInjurySignificant increaseAdherenceHigh percentageInterventionConsultationProvidersAbuseGuidelinesChild Protection Team Consultation for Injuries Potentially Due to Child Abuse in Community Emergency Departments
Tiyyagura G, Emerson B, Gaither JR, Bechtel K, Leventhal JM, Becker H, Della Guistina K, Balga T, Mackenzie B, Shum M, Shapiro ED, Auerbach M, McVaney C, Morrell P, Asnes AG. Child Protection Team Consultation for Injuries Potentially Due to Child Abuse in Community Emergency Departments. Academic Emergency Medicine 2020, 28: 70-81. PMID: 32931628, DOI: 10.1111/acem.14132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommunity emergency departmentsHigh-risk injuriesChild protection teamSkeletal surveyChild protective servicesEmergency departmentClinical pathway implementationHospital child protection teamInitiation of interventionsStudy-Act approachDetection of abuseChild abuse expertsAbusive injuriesPathway implementationProvider trainingEmergency careInjuryTeam consultationInfantsMonthsProtection teamStatistical process control chartsInterventionSuch interventionsConsultation
2019
Oral injuries in children less than 24 months of age in a pediatric emergency department
Woolf SM, Leventhal JM, Gaither JR, Hardikar P, Langhan ML, Bechtel K, Auerbach MA, Tiyyagura G. Oral injuries in children less than 24 months of age in a pediatric emergency department. Child Abuse & Neglect 2019, 89: 70-77. PMID: 30639971, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.01.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPediatric emergency departmentOral injuriesChief complaintEmergency departmentAbuse evaluationsTertiary care pediatric emergency departmentMedical chief complaintsMonths old presentingPediatric emergency medicine physiciansProspective observational studyComplete oral examinationEmergency medicine physiciansMonths of ageYoung childrenOld presentingPatient demographicsInjury detailsChildren 12Children 0Observational studyOral examinationMedicine physiciansNon-mobile childrenInjuryPatientsCharacteristics That Distinguish Abusive From Nonabusive Causes of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths
Bechtel K, Derbyshire M, Gaither JR, Leventhal JM. Characteristics That Distinguish Abusive From Nonabusive Causes of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths. Pediatric Emergency Care 2019, 37: e780-e783. PMID: 30829845, DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000001787.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSudden unexpected infant deathUnexpected infant deathChild protective services involvementTime of deathSentinel injuryManner of deathSpontaneous circulationInfant deathEmergency medical services transportEmergency department settingMaternal substance useCase-control designService involvementMedical examiner recordsClinical outcomesEmergency departmentDepartment settingCardiopulmonary resuscitationFatal child abuseServices transportSubstance useDeathFurther studiesSignificant differencesInfants
2018
Preventing child maltreatment: Examination of an established statewide home-visiting program
Chaiyachati BH, Gaither JR, Hughes M, Foley-Schain K, Leventhal JM. Preventing child maltreatment: Examination of an established statewide home-visiting program. Child Abuse & Neglect 2018, 79: 476-484. PMID: 29558714, PMCID: PMC5894115, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.02.019.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2017
Abusive fracture incidence over three decades at a level 1 pediatric trauma center
Sharkey MS, Buesser KE, Gaither JR, Tate V, Cooperman DR, Moles RL, Silva CT, Ehrlich LJ, Leventhal JM. Abusive fracture incidence over three decades at a level 1 pediatric trauma center. Child Abuse & Neglect 2017, 76: 364-371. PMID: 29195174, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.11.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPediatric trauma centerLevel 1 pediatric trauma centerAbusive fracturesTrauma centerED visitsSingle pediatric trauma centerSame trauma centerSingle-institution reviewFracture incidenceInstitution reviewEmergency departmentIncidenceAgeChildrenConsensus ratingsRecent dataTime periodVisitsFracturesCurrent studyRecent time periodPeriodGeographic regionsCenterStudyInter-rater reliability of physical abuse determinations in young children with fractures
Buesser KE, Leventhal JM, Gaither JR, Tate V, Cooperman DR, Moles RL, Silva CT, Ehrlich LJ, Sharkey MS. Inter-rater reliability of physical abuse determinations in young children with fractures. Child Abuse & Neglect 2017, 72: 140-146. PMID: 28802910, DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.08.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChild abuse pediatriciansModerate agreementPediatric emergency departmentMedical record dataYoung childrenAbusive injuriesEmergency departmentJoint ratingsClinical detailsInter-rater reliabilityPediatric radiologistsClinical scenariosMedical providersPairs of ratersPediatric orthopaedistsLevel of agreementOrthopaedistsRecord dataCliniciansGold standardIndependent ratingsRadiologistsChildrenExtent of agreementPhysicians
2016
National Trends in Hospitalizations for Opioid Poisonings Among Children and Adolescents, 1997 to 2012
Gaither JR, Leventhal JM, Ryan SA, Camenga DR. National Trends in Hospitalizations for Opioid Poisonings Among Children and Adolescents, 1997 to 2012. JAMA Pediatrics 2016, 170: 1195-1201. PMID: 27802492, PMCID: PMC7245935, DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.2154.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid poisoningInpatient DatabaseAge groupsSerial cross-sectional dataDischarge recordsPrescription opioid poisoningsOpioid prescribing practicesHospital discharge recordsKids' Inpatient DatabaseCharacteristics of hospitalizationsYears of ageCochran-Armitage testPediatric hospital discharge recordsOpioid exposureAnnual incidencePediatric populationPrescription opioidsNinth RevisionPrescribing practicesChildren 1Opioid storageClinical ModificationRetrospective analysisHospitalizationMAIN OUTCOME
2012
Incidence of Serious Injuries Due to Physical Abuse in the United States: 1997 to 2009
Leventhal JM, Gaither JR. Incidence of Serious Injuries Due to Physical Abuse in the United States: 1997 to 2009. Pediatrics 2012, 130: e847-e852. PMID: 23027163, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-0922.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsYears of ageInpatient DatabaseInjury codesNational incidenceSerious injuriesPhysical abuseClinical Modification diagnosisKids' Inpatient DatabaseChild protective services dataSerious physical abuseSample of dischargesNinth RevisionHospitalized childrenInternational ClassificationIncidenceSubstantiated physical abuseInjuryAgeChildrenExternal causesAbuseSmall increaseYearsService dataHospitalization