National Vital Statistics Data Systems: Obtaining Data to Assess the Health of a Community

Needs Statement

There is a deficit in knowledge of pediatricians about what information is collected about infant births and deaths, how they are linked and how deaths are classified. The majority of sleep-related deaths in infants are preventable by following the AAP guidelines for Safe Sleep. Recognizing the impact on a local community of these sleep-related deaths is important for communicating risk to families and provides the ability to track rates following practice changes. Parents respect and trust their healthcare provider, and information coming from their primary care physician is more likely to be incorporated into home care for their infant. The majority of safe sleep education occurs at the time of birth. Reinforcement of safe sleep education in the office setting would emphasize to the parents the importance of following the recommendations. Pediatricians aren’t always familiar with all the recommendations for safe sleep from the AAP, so they are not comfortable counseling. In addition, they may not be aware of the magnitude of the problem in their community, therefore utilizing data from the NVSS will stress the importance of continued education for parents, as well as tracking rates longitudinally when changes are incorporated in counseling and education.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participants should be able to:

• Describe how data is collected through the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and how to access it.
• Explain the classification of SUID, its risk factors and impact on families.
• Demonstrate how to use NVSS data, community incidence of SUID, and risk factors to enhance communication with parents to prevent SUID.

Target Audience

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Educational Methods

• Lectures

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Term of Approval

September 1, 2024 through September 30, 2026. Original release date: September 1, 2024.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.