The Impact of Structural Racism on Continuity of Care at Pediatric Academic Primary Care Clinics.

OBJECTIVE: Using a structural racism framework, we assessed for racial inequities in continuity of care, using the Usual Provider Continuity Index (UPC - the proportion of visits with the provider the patient saw most frequently out of all visits), in a set of large pediatric academic clinics. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Patients 12-24 months seen at 3 pediatric academic primary care clinics for any visit during October 1-31, 2021 were included. We then reviewed continuity for these patients in the preceding 12 months. Outcomes included each patient's UPC for all visits, and a modified UPC for well child checks only (UPC Well). Covariates included race, ethnicity, insurance, clinic site, age, sex, care management, or seeing a social worker. We evaluated for differences in outcomes using bivariate analyses and multivariable regression models. RESULTS: Our cohort included 356 patients (74% Black, 5% Hispanic, 85% Medicaid, 52% female, median age 15.8 months). The median UPC was 0.33 and median UPC Well was 0.40. Black patients had significantly lower median values for UPC (0.33 Black vs 0.40 non-Black, p<0.0001) and UPC Well (0.33 Black vs 0.50 non-Black, p<0.0001). There were similar inequities in continuity rates by insurance and clinic site. In multivariable models, clinic site was the only variable significantly associated with continuity. CONCLUSIONS: Clinic sites serving higher percentages of Black patients had lower rates of continuity. The main driver of racial inequities in continuity rates was at the institutional level. WHAT'S NEW: This is the first study to assess racial inequities in primary care provider continuity rates across clinics within a single academic pediatric center. Racial inequities in continuity have not previously been described across pediatric academic primary care clinic sites.

A Community Initiative to Help Children Who Are Homeless.

Children experiencing homelessness (CEH) have several health-related needs. It is necessary to address barriers posed by homelessness to improve health outcomes. Our objectives were to (1) conduct a health-related needs assessment and (2) determine acceptability/feasibility of the community-based initiative designed to identify and address health-related needs for CEH. The initiative involved a mobile care center, a health-focused education series for CEH, and resource provision, which included establishing connections with a stable source of health care. The needs assessment included standardized screening questions assessing health-related needs. We surveyed guardians of CEH who attended Summer360 between June and July 2022. Guardians were invited to evaluate our intervention via survey. We used descriptive statistics to characterize health-related needs. A needs assessment was completed on 36 of 100 children (42% white persons, 64% male), with 94% reporting at least 1 health-related need, and 61% with ≥3 needs. The most common needs identified were dental health and food insecurity. Twenty-four (24%) campers participated in a mobile health clinic that included hearing and vision screening, fluoride application, and vaccinations. The education series included dental hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. All families who desired assistance (73%) were connected to resources, and 91% of guardians agreed that the initiative helped meet their children's health-related needs and provided helpful resources. Implementation required planning with contributors including dental partners, mobile clinic operators, and school leadership. A community-based health initiative may serve as a unique opportunity to identify and address health-related needs for CEH.

Virtual reality informs clinical observation tool.

BACKGROUND: Assessing trainees' skills via workplace-based assessments is challenging given the lack of psychometrically valid instruments. Our team previously developed an observation instrument to assess residents' competencies in behavioral health anticipatory guidance (BHAG) and motivational interviewing (MI) though its reliable usage required expert raters (e.g., paediatric psychologists). Our purpose was to establish validity evidence for a modified tool for clinicians. APPROACH: This study utilised data from a prior educational trial of a virtual reality (VR)-based behavioural health curriculum for paediatric residents. First, group interviews were conducted with clinicians to modify the expert instrument. Next, recorded VR simulations (n = 10) were scored to assess interrater reliability between clinicians. Finally, a physician used the tool to assess its ability to discriminate between residents' skill levels (n = 55). EVALUATION: Modifications during group interviews included a change from frequency counts for items related to MI to the binary outcome of present/absent and the addition of an entrustment item. On interrater-reliability testing, the clinician tool demonstrated mostly substantial or near perfect agreement for items related to BHAG. MI items demonstrated a range of agreement. Using 55 recorded VR simulations, the clinician tool discriminated between trained versus untrained residents in BHAG skills (p = 0.002) and level of entrustment (p = 0.001). Differences between groups in MI adherence was not statistically significant (p = 0.095) as it was on the expert instrument. IMPLICATIONS: VR demonstrated potential as a novel approach for obtaining validity evidence for tool development to support workplace-based assessments. Further work assessing usage of the clinician tool in real-world settings is warranted.

An Assessment of a Socioeconomic Risk Screening Tool for Telemedicine Encounters in Pediatric Primary Care: A Pilot Study.

Socioeconomic adversity negatively affects child health. Telemedicine use in pediatrics is rapidly expanding. We piloted a socioeconomic risk screening tool within telemedicine visits. Using chart review, our primary aim was to assess the rates of screen completion, risk identification, and referral generation during telemedicine visits. Our secondary aim was to assess family satisfaction and barriers to connecting with referrals/interventions through follow-up telephone interviews. This study included 179 telemedicine encounters. The screening tool was completed in 63% of encounters and was positive in 5% of encounters. Of those who identified socioeconomic risks, 90% received a referral/intervention (social work consultation, food pantry, etc.). During follow-up calls, families expressed satisfaction with telemedicine, though 31% described difficulty connecting with the recommended services. High rates of socioeconomic risk screening resulting in interventions are achievable during telemedicine visits. Further work is needed to identify optimal socioeconomic risk screening questions and opportunities, and to ensure successful interventions.

Impact of a Virtual Reality Curriculum on Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: A Pilot Trial.

Although the strongest predictor of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a high-quality recommendation, physicians often provide weak recommendations. Thus, the authors developed Virtual Immersive Communication Training on Recommending Immunizations (VICTORI), a virtual reality (VR)‒based intervention that provided physicians the opportunity to deliberately practice recommendation behaviors. VICTORI included VR simulations during which participants counseled caregiver avatars hesitant to vaccinate. Before participation in VICTORI, participants reviewed a smartphone application on recommendation behaviors. A nonrandomized control trial of VICTORI was conducted with licensed and resident physicians. The intervention group completed the application and VICTORI simulations, whereas a comparison group completed only the application. The hypothesis was that HPV vaccination rates would increase for patients in the intervention group. The preintervention period was defined as the 6 months before allocated training (February 1, 2020-July 31, 2020), and the postintervention period was the 6 months after (October 1, 2020-March 31, 2021). The primary outcome was a change in the rates of human papillomavirus vaccine initiation among eligible patients presenting to clinic before and after. Of 142 eligible physicians, 134 (94%) chose to participate, with 93 of /97 (96%) intervention and 30 of 37 (81%) comparison participants completing study protocols. There was a statistically significant increase in patients' HPV vaccine initiation rates after training within the intervention group (54.3%‒72.4%; 18.1% difference [95% CI=11.0, 25.8]; p<0.001) but not within the comparison group (59.5%‒63.4%; 3.9% difference [95% CI= -11.0, 19.0]; p=0.609). In conclusion, HPV vaccine initiation increased after VR training, and further study is warranted.

Increasing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Uptake in Pediatric Primary Care by Offering Vaccine to Household Members.

Pediatric primary care is a trusted source for treatment and information. In the 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines became available for adolescents, we administered 2286 doses (1270 to patients; 1016 to household members) to 1376 individuals (64.1% Black; 10.1% Latinx), providing opportunities to address family concerns in a familiar location.

The Impact of a Gamified Curriculum Using Kahoot! on Musculoskeletal Knowledge and Skill Acquisition Among Pediatric Residents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a musculoskeletal curriculum involving gamification via Kahoot! (an online classroom response system) was acceptable and more effective at teaching pediatric residents musculoskeletal knowledge and skills than a nongamified curriculum. METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted at an urban, academic pediatric clinic. All participants received a curriculum that included brief didactics and knowledge questions. The knowledge questions were delivered via Kahoot! to the intervention group and administered via paper to the control group. The primary outcome was knowledge and skill acquisition following curriculum participation. RESULTS: A total of 73 of 85 (86%) residents completed the study (intervention group: 46; control group: 27). Following participation in the curriculum, intervention and control residents demonstrated an improvement in musculoskeletal knowledge (P < .05) measured via questionnaire, as well as an improvement in physical exam skills during a standardized patient encounter (P < .05). There was no difference in knowledge or skill improvement between groups. Intervention participants indicated positive attitudes toward Kahoot!. CONCLUSIONS: Our musculoskeletal curriculum demonstrated improvements in knowledge and skills among residents, though inclusion of Kahoot! did not enhance the experimental effect. Further research is needed to identify strategies to optimize gamification for learning.

Resolving Pediatric Preventive Care Gaps Through Hospital Inreach.

OBJECTIVES: Panel management processes have been used to help improve population-level care and outreach to patients outside the health care system. Opportunities to resolve gaps in preventive care are often missed when patients present outside of primary care settings but still within the larger health care system. We hypothesized that we could design a process of "inreach" capable of resolving care gaps traditionally addressed solely in primary care settings. Our aim was to identify and resolve gaps in vaccinations and screening for lead exposure for children within our primary care registry aged 2 to 66 months who were admitted to the hospital. We sought to increase care gaps closed from 12% to 50%. METHODS: We formed a multidisciplinary team composed of primary care and hospital medicine physicians, nursing leadership, and quality improvement experts within the Division of General and Community Pediatrics. The team identified a smart aim, mapped the process, predicted failure modes, and developed a key driver diagram. We identified, tested, and implemented multiple interventions related to role assignment, identification of admitted patients with care gaps, and communication with the inpatient teams. RESULTS: After increasing the reliability of our process to identify and contact the hospital medicine team caring for patients who needed action to 88%, we observed an increase in the preventive care gaps closed from 12% to 41%. CONCLUSIONS: A process to help improve preventive care for children can be successfully implemented by using quality improvement methodologies outside of the traditional domains of primary care.

Association Between Unscheduled Pediatric Primary Care Visits and Risk of Developmental Delay.

OBJECTIVE: Primary care centers are trialing open access scheduling models to expand access. Given evidence linking irregular caregiver work schedules with adverse child developmental outcomes, we hypothesized that children presenting for unscheduled "walk-in" visits would have higher odds of developmental concerns than those presenting for scheduled visits. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of electronic health record data for children aged 6 to 66 months visiting an academic pediatric primary care center between July 1, 2013 and February 1, 2019. Our primary outcome was presence of developmental concerns, defined by results below cutoff on a child's Ages & Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). We examined associations between visit stream (unscheduled vs scheduled; time of day) and ASQ-3 using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for child demographics, visit type (well-child vs ill), and responses to a standardized social history questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 11,169 eligible total encounters each for a unique child, 8% were unscheduled (n = 848); 19% had developmental concerns in at least one domain (n = 2100). Twenty-eight percent of children presenting for unscheduled visits had developmental concerns compared to 18% of those presenting for scheduled visits (P < .0001). Compared to those presenting for scheduled well-child visits, children presenting for unscheduled ill visits had a higher odds of an ASQ-3 score below cutoff (adjusted odds ratio 2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-2.65). CONCLUSIONS: As pediatric primary care centers implement open access scheduling models, they should be prepared to identify and respond to developmental concerns at a rate that may be higher than what is typically seen during scheduled visits.

Integration and Impact of Telemedicine in Underserved Pediatric Primary Care.

Telemedicine, more novel in provision of pediatric care, rapidly expanded due to the recent coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of telemedicine for acute and chronic care provision in an underserved pediatric primary care center. Items assessed included patient demographic data, chief complaint, and alternative care locations if telemedicine was not available. In our setting, 62% of telemedicine visits were for acute concerns and 38% for chronic concerns. Of acute telemedicine visits, 16.5% of families would have sought care in the Emergency Department/Urgent Care, and 11.3% would have opted for no care had telemedicine not been offered. The most common chronic issues addressed were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (80.3%) and asthma (16.9%). Racial disparities existed among our telemedicine visits with Black patients utilizing telemedicine services less frequently than non-Black patients. Telemedicine is feasible for pediatric acute and chronic care, but systems must be designed to mitigate widening racial disparities.

Evaluation of HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same DayTM: A Pilot Study.

Missed clinical opportunities and the lack of strong and consistent vaccine recommendations are key reasons for low HPV vaccination rates. The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot evaluation of a web-based training's impact on knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy related to providing evidence-based HPV vaccine recommendations. Participants completed three online interactive learning modules and the HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day™ smartphone application (app). Participants completed a pre-training survey, immediate post-training survey, and two-month post-survey. Participants demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge scores from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3. Mean attitudes for recommending HPV vaccination for female patients increased from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3. Mean attitudes for recommending HPV vaccination for male patients increased from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3. Mean self-efficacy scores increased from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3. The HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day™ app is a promising strategy for improving HPV vaccine recommendations among physicians. Future research should explore long-term effects and enroll attending and community physicians to examine its efficacy in other physician populations.

Usability Evaluation of the Novel Smartphone Application, HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day, Among Pediatric Residents.

OBJECTIVE: Scalable, deliberate practice training strategies to administer evidence-based recommendations are necessary to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates. We sought to characterize resident clinicians' perceptions regarding the usability of the HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day smartphone application (app). Usability, a critical aspect of digital programs to promote behavior change, was evaluated. METHODS: Fifteen third-year pediatric residents were recruited to complete a usability evaluation of the HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day app, which includes simulated role-play scenarios in which users interact, as a pediatrician avatar, with an animated parent hesitant to accept the vaccine for her child. The app provides information about the vaccine and utilizes deliberate practice, a purposeful and systematic approach to improve performance, to teach evidence-based vaccine recommendation practices, including motivational interviewing skills. Data were derived from in-depth, semistructured interviews with pediatric residents. We used a constructivist general inductive approach to illuminate perspectives via inductive coding and pattern identification. Garrison's theoretical construct on self-directed learning was used to cluster themes into conceptual categories. RESULTS: We classified interview data in 3 conceptual categories: self-management, internal monitoring and motivational principles. Residents described the app as interactive, easy to use, succinct, informative, engaging, and practical. All residents would recommend the HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day app to a colleague. Residents suggested adding more complex cases for future iterations. CONCLUSIONS: From their perspective, pediatric residents reported that an app using deliberate practice principles has the potential to inform and advance providers' counseling skills regarding the HPV vaccine.

Online Simulated Cases Assess Retention of Virtual Neighborhood Tour Curriculum.

Background Learning to identify and address social determinants of health (SDH) is a crucial component of pediatric residency training. A virtual tour of an impoverished neighborhood previously demonstrated efficacy in increasing residents' self-assessed knowledge and competence, but its impact on performance has not yet been reported. Online simulated cases are emerging as feasible assessment tools to measure trainees' skills across various healthcare settings. We developed online simulated cases to evaluate residents' retention of the virtual tour's key SDH-related learning objectives 1 month after completing this curriculum. Methods Three online simulated cases with interpolated open-ended questions were created to assess residents' ability to identify SDH, recommend appropriate resources, and display empathy. Scoring rubrics to objectively evaluate responses were developed and borderline scores were decided by a team of educators. Results 19 residents participated. Mean scores for all cases exceeded pre-established borderline scores (statistically significant in two of the three cases). More than 90% of residents identified relevant SDH in the primary care and emergency department cases. Ninety-five percent of residents recommended appropriate resources in all cases, and 89% displayed empathy. Discussion Residents' performance in online simulated cases demonstrated retention and application of the virtual tour's learning objectives, including recognizing SDH, offering appropriate resources, and displaying empathy, which supports the long-term effectiveness of the virtual tour curriculum to train pediatricians about SDH. Online simulated cases provided a standardized and cost-effective way to measure residents' skills related to curricular uptake, suggesting that this assessment approach may be adapted to evaluate other educational interventions.

Dose Matters: A Smartphone Application to Improve Asthma Control Among Patients at an Urban Pediatric Primary Care Clinic.

Objective: As the most common chronic condition of childhood, asthma is a frequent target for family education. However, current educational strategies rarely tailor to learning style or literacy level. Thus, we developed and implemented a smartphone application (app) leveraging gamified features entitled CHANGE Asthma ("Clinic, Home, And on the Go Education for Asthma"). We subsequently assessed its impact on asthma control. Methods: Patients aged 4-11 years with a previously documented childhood asthma control test (C-ACT) score of <20, indicating poor control, were recruited to participate in this randomized control pilot study. The intervention group downloaded CHANGE Asthma; asthma control was assessed at enrollment and at follow-up. The changes in C-ACT score in both groups were compared using analysis of covariance (primary outcome). App usage was monitored for 4 months following download, and the relationship between usage time, and the change in C-ACT score was assessed via linear regression. Results: The control and intervention groups both included 20 caregivers with 75% of participants completing follow-up. Although C-ACT scores among intervention participants significantly improved at follow-up, compared to their own baseline (P = 0.04), the change of C-ACT score did not significantly differ from that of the control group (P = 0.78). Among the intervention participants, there was a positive, dose-dependent relationship between app usage time and positive change in C-ACT score (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Usage of a gamified app was associated with a dose-dependent improvement in asthma control over time, suggesting that further evaluation of apps for asthma education, and perhaps for other chronic conditions, is warranted.

Objective Assessment of Resident Teaching Competency Through a Longitudinal, Clinically Integrated, Resident-as-Teacher Curriculum.

OBJECTIVE: Competency-based training should be paired with objective assessments. To date, there has been limited objective assessment of resident-as-teacher curricula (RATC). We sought to assess the impact of a longitudinal RATC on postgraduate year-1 (PGY1) resident teaching competency using Observed Structured Teaching Encounters (OSTEs) for the skills of 1) brief didactic teaching [DT], 2) feedback [FB], and 3) precepting [PR]. METHODS: A controlled, prospective, educational study was conducted from May 2015 to June 2016. The RATC consisted of a workshop series with reinforcement of key skills (DT, FB) during clinical rotations. Intervention residents participated in the RATC and completed OSTEs at the beginning and end of the academic year. A control group, PGY1 residents that matriculated the year previously, completed the OSTEs before starting their PGY2 year. OSTEs were reviewed by 2 blinded study personnel. We assessed reliability between raters via intraclass correlation coefficients and differences in OSTE scores via least squared mean differences (LSMD). RESULTS: In total, 92.5% (n = 37) of eligible control and 100% (n = 41) of eligible intervention residents participated. The OSTEs demonstrated excellent agreement between reviewers (DT: 0.99, FB: 0.89, PR: 0.98). A significant pre-post difference was demonstrated in the intervention group for DT (LSMD [95% confidence interval], 3.14 [2.49-3.79], P < .0001), FB (0.93 [0.49-1.37], P < .0001), and PR (0.64 [0.09-1.18], P < .022). A significant difference between the control and intervention groups was demonstrated for DT (3.00 [2.05-3.96], P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Skill-based OSTEs can be used to detect changes in residents' teaching competency and may represent a potential component of programmatic evaluation of resident-as-teacher curricula.

Provision of Parent Feedback via the Communication Assessment Tool: Does It Improve Resident Communication Skills?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a curriculum that included parent feedback, via the Communication Assessment Tool (CAT), on resident communication skills. METHODS: In a prospective, controlled study, categorical pediatric residents in continuity clinic were divided into control and intervention groups based on clinic day. Parent feedback was obtained for all residents at the beginning and end of the year using the CAT, a validated survey to assess physician communication. Intervention residents participated in learning conferences that reviewed communication best practices and received parental feedback via individual and group CAT scores. Scores were dichotomized as 5 (excellent) versus 1 to 4 (less than excellent) and reported as percentage of items rated excellent. Curriculum impact was assessed by comparing score changes between groups. Residents' scores in both arms were combined to assess changes from the beginning of the year to the end. Statistical testing was performed using generalized linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: All residents (N = 68) participated. Intervention (n = 38) and control (n = 30) residents received at least 10 CATs at the beginning and end of the year. The percentage of parents rating all items as excellent increased by similar percentages in intervention and control groups (60.9%-73.8% vs 61.1%-69.8; P = .38). When scores of residents in both arms were combined, improvement was found from the beginning to the end of the year for all CAT items (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A curriculum including parent feedback from CATs did not significantly impact communication skills. However, communication skills improved over the year in intervention and control groups, suggesting that communication training occurs in multiple settings.