Improving Care Management in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An RCT.

2021

2021 Jul 19

1098-4275

<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>To compare the effectiveness of care management combined with a patient portal versus a portal alone for communication among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Randomized controlled trial conducted at 11 primary care practices. Children aged 5 to 12 years old with ADHD were randomly assigned to care management + portal or portal alone. The portal included parent-reported treatment preferences and goals, medication side effects, and parent- and teacher-reported ADHD symptom scales. Care managers provided education to families; communicated quarterly with parents, teachers, and clinicians; and coordinated care. The main outcome, changes in the Vanderbilt Parent Rating Scale (VPRS) score as a measure of ADHD symptoms, was assessed using intention-to-treat analysis.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>A total of 303 eligible children (69% male; 46% Black) were randomly assigned, and 273 (90%) completed the study. During the 9-month study, parents in the care management + portal arm communicated inconsistently with care managers (mean 2.2; range 0-6) but similarly used the portal (mean 2.3 vs 2.2) as parents in the portal alone arm. In multivariate models, VPRS scores decreased over time (Adjusted β = -.015; 95% confidence interval -0.023 to -0.07) in both groups, but there were no intervention-by-time effects (Adjusted β = .000; 95% confidence interval -0.011 to 0.012) between groups. Children who received ≥2 care management sessions had greater reductions in VPRS scores than those with fewer sessions.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Results did not provide evidence that care management combined with a patient portal was different from portal use alone among children with ADHD. Both groups demonstrated similar reductions in ADHD symptoms. Those families with greater care management engagement demonstrated greater reductions than those with less engagement.</p>

10.1542/peds.2020-031518

Pediatrics

34281997

Effect of Family Navigation on Diagnostic Ascertainment Among Children at Risk for Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial From DBPNet.

2021

2021 Jan 11

2168-6211

<p><strong>Importance: </strong>Early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with improved cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Targeted strategies are needed to support equitable access to diagnostic services to ensure that children from low-income and racial/ethnic minority families receive the benefits of early ASD identification and treatment.</p>

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To test the efficacy of family navigation (FN), an individually tailored, culturally informed care management strategy, to increase the likelihood of achieving diagnostic ascertainment among young children at risk for ASD.</p>

<p><strong>Design, Setting, and Participants: </strong>This randomized clinical trial of 249 families of children aged 15 to 27 months who had positive screening results for possible ASD was conducted in 11 urban primary care sites in 3 cities. Data collection occurred from February 24, 2015, through November 5, 2018. Statistical analysis was performed on an intent-to-treat basis from November 5, 2018, to July 27, 2020.</p>

<p><strong>Interventions: </strong>Families were randomized to FN or conventional care management (CCM). Families receiving FN were assigned a navigator who conducted community-based outreach to families to address structural barriers to care and support engagement in recommended services. Families receiving CCM were assigned to a care manager, who did limited telephone outreach. Families received FN or CCM after positive initial screening results and for 100 days after diagnostic ascertainment.</p>

<p><strong>Main Outcomes and Measures: </strong>The primary outcome, diagnostic ascertainment, was measured as the number of days from randomization to completion of the child's clinical developmental evaluation, when a diagnosis of ASD or other developmental disorder was determined.</p>

<p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 250 families randomized, 249 were included in the primary analysis (174 boys [69.9%]; mean [SD] age, 22.0 [3.5] months; 205 [82.3%] publicly insured; 233 [93.6%] non-White). Children who received FN had a greater likelihood of reaching diagnostic ascertainment over the course of 1 year (FN, 108 of 126 [85.7%]; CCM, 94 of 123 [76.4%]; unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.39 [95% CI, 1.05-1.84]). Site (Boston, New Haven, and Philadelphia) and ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic) moderated the effect of FN (treatment × site interaction; P = .03; Boston: HR, 2.07 [95% CI, 1.31-3.26]; New Haven: HR, 1.91 [95% CI, 0.94-3.89]; and Philadelphia: HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.60-1.37]) (treatment × ethnicity interaction; P &lt; .001; Hispanic families: HR, 2.81 [95% CI, 2.23-3.54] vs non-Hispanic families: HR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.45-1.53]). The magnitude of FN's effect was significantly greater among Hispanic families than among non-Hispanic families (diagnostic ascertainment among Hispanic families: FN, 90.9% [30 of 33], and CCM, 53.3% [16 of 30]; vs non-Hispanic families: FN, 89.7% [35 of 39], and CCM, 77.5% [31 of 40]).</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions and Relevance: </strong>Family navigation improved the likelihood of diagnostic ascertainment among children from racial/ethnic minority, low-income families who were detected as at risk for ASD in primary care. Results suggest differential effects of FN by site and ethnicity.</p>

<p><strong>Trial Registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02359084.</p>

10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.5218

JAMA Pediatr

33427861

Sharing of ADHD Information between Parents and Teachers Using an EHR-Linked Application.

2018

892-904

2018 Oct

1869-0327

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong> Appropriate management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involves parents, clinicians, and teachers. Fragmentation of interventions between different settings can lead to suboptimal care and outcomes. Electronic systems can bridge gaps across settings. Our institution developed an email-based software to collect ADHD information from parents and teachers, which delivered data directly to the clinician within the electronic health record (EHR).</p>

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong> We sought to adapt our institution's existing EHR-linked system for ADHD symptom monitoring to support communication between parents and teachers and then to assess child characteristics associated with sharing of ADHD information.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong> We updated our software to support automated sharing of ADHD information between parents and teachers. Sharing was optional for parents but obligatory for teachers. We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 590 patients at 31 primary care sites to evaluate a system for sharing of ADHD-specific health information between parents and teachers. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate associations between child characteristics and parental sharing. We further investigated the association between child characteristics and viewing of survey results delivered through the electronic communication system.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong> Most parents (64%) elected to share survey results with teachers at the first opportunity and the vast majority (80%) elected to share all possible information. Parents who elected to share usually continue sharing at subsequent opportunities (89%). Younger child age and performance impairments were associated with increased likelihood of sharing. However, parents viewed only 16% of teacher submitted surveys and teachers only viewed 30% of surveys shared by parents.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong> This study demonstrates that electronic systems to capture ADHD information from parents and teachers can be adapted to support communication between them, and that parents are amenable to sharing ADHD information with teachers. However, strategies are needed to encourage viewing of shared information.</p>

10.1055/s-0038-1676087

Appl Clin Inform

30566963

Distance-Learning, ADHD Quality Improvement in Primary Care: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

2017

2017 Aug 09

1536-7312

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>To evaluate a distance-learning, quality improvement intervention to improve pediatric primary care provider use of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rating scales.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Primary care practices were cluster randomized to a 3-part distance-learning, quality improvement intervention (web-based education, collaborative consultation with ADHD experts, and performance feedback reports/calls), qualifying for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part IV credit, or wait-list control. We compared changes relative to a baseline period in rating scale use by study arm using logistic regression clustered by practice (primary analysis) and examined effect modification by level of clinician participation. An electronic health record-linked system for gathering ADHD rating scales from parents and teachers was implemented before the intervention period at all sites. Rating scale use was ascertained by manual chart review.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>One hundred five clinicians at 19 sites participated. Differences between arms were not significant. From the baseline to intervention period and after implementation of the electronic system, clinicians in both study arms were significantly more likely to administer and receive parent and teacher rating scales. Among intervention clinicians, those who participated in at least 1 feedback call or qualified for MOC credit were more likely to give parents rating scales with differences of 14.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-27.7) and 18.8 (95% CI, 1.9-35.7) percentage points, respectively.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>A 3-part clinician-focused distance-learning, quality improvement intervention did not improve rating scale use. Complementary strategies that support workflows and more fully engage clinicians may be needed to bolster care. Electronic systems that gather rating scales may help achieve this goal. Index terms: ADHD, primary care, quality improvement, clinical decision support.</p>

10.1097/DBP.0000000000000490

J Dev Behav Pediatr

28816912

A Pilot Randomized Trial of a Video Patient Decision Aid to Facilitate Early Intervention Referrals From Primary Care.

2017

Mar 2017

1938-2707

<p>Many young children identified with developmental concerns in pediatric settings do not receive early intervention (EI). We assessed the impact of a video decision aid and text message reminder on knowledge and attitudes regarding developmental delay and EI as well as referral completion. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial in an urban setting and enrolled 64 parent-child dyads referred to EI. Compared with controls, participants who received the intervention demonstrated increased knowledge regarding developmental delay and EI as well as more favorable attitudes in certain topics. Although we did not find a significant difference between arms in EI intake and evaluation, we found a pattern suggestive of increased intake and evaluation among participants with low health literacy in the intervention arm. Additional study is needed to identify strategies that improve the EI referral process for families and to understand the potential targeted role for decision aids and text messages.</p>

10.1177/0009922816677038

Clin Pediatr (Phila)

27834191

Challenges to implementation of developmental screening in urban primary care: a mixed methods study.

2014

16

2014 Jan

1471-2431

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Research is needed to identify challenges to developmental screening and strategies for screening in an urban pediatric setting.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Parents of young children and clinicians at four urban pediatric practices participated in focus groups prior to implementation of screening. Participants were queried regarding attitudes, social norms, and barriers to developmental screening. Using information from the focus groups, workflow strategies were developed for implementing screening. Referral rates and satisfaction with screening were gathered at the conclusion.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Six focus groups of parents and clinicians were conducted. Major themes identified included 1) parents desired greater input on child development and increased time with physicians, 2) physicians did not fully trust parental input, 3) physicians preferred clinical acumen over screening tools, and 4) physicians lacked time and training to conduct screening. For the intervention, developmental screening was implemented at the 9-, 18-, 24-, and 30-month well visits using the Ages &amp; Stages Questionnaire-II and the Modified Checklist for Toddlers. 1397 (98% of eligible) children under 36 months old were enrolled, and 1184 (84%) were screened at least once. 1002 parents (85%) completed a survey at the conclusion of the screening trial. Most parents reported no difficulty completing the screens (99%), felt the screens covered important areas of child development (98%), and felt they learned about their child's strengths and limitations (88%).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Developmental screening in urban low-income practices is feasible and acceptable, but requires strategies to capture parental input, provide training, facilitate referrals, and develop workflow procedures and electronic decision support.</p>

10.1186/1471-2431-14-16

BMC Pediatr

24447411

Coordinating Mental Health Care Across Primary Care and Schools: ADHD as a Case Example.

2013

68-80

2013 Jan 1

1754-730X

<p>Although primary care practices and schools are major venues for the delivery of mental health services to children, these systems are disconnected, contributing to fragmentation in service delivery. This paper describes barriers to collaboration across the primary care and school systems, including administrative and fiscal pressures, conceptual and linguistic differences between healthcare and educational professionals, role restrictions among professionals, and privacy laws. Strategies for overcoming these barriers that can be applied in both primary care and school settings are described. The paper has a primary focus on children with ADHD, but the principles and strategies described are applicable to children with a range of mental health and health conditions.</p>

10.1080/1754730X.2013.749089

Adv Sch Ment Health Promot

23459527