A Profile of Care Coordination, Missed School Days, and Unmet Needs Among Oregon Children with Special Health Care Needs with Behavioral and Mental Health Conditions

Therapeutic itinerary of children with special health care needs: analysis guided by care systems

OBJECTIVE

To understand the therapeutic itinerary taken by families in search of attention to their child's special health care needs in a Brazilian border town.

METHOD

Qualitative research based on dialectical hermeneutics and on the Health Care Systems model. Interviews and Talking Maps (Dynamics of Creativity and Sensitivity) were carried out with 19 caregivers of children with special health care needs, attended at care institutions in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, in 2020. For data analysis, thematic analysis was used.

RESULTS

The fragilities of the Health Care System were highlighted, permeated by: difficulties in accessing the diagnosis and consultations; overload for care; (dis)organization of the care itinerary; and deconstruction of the bond, due to failures in communication and reception. Conclusion: The deconstruction of the therapeutic itinerary of children with special health care needs involved, above all, the professional context in the Health Care System, leading to the search for care in private services and in care institutions.

Itinerário terapêutico de crianças com necessidades especiais de saúde: análise guiada por sistemas de cuidado

RESUMO Objetivo: Compreender o itinerário terapêutico percorrido pelas famílias em busca de atenção às necessidades especiais de saúde do filho em um município brasileiro de fronteira. Método: Pesquisa qualitativa fundamentada na hermenêutica dialética e no modelo de Sistemas de Cuidado à Saúde. Foram realizadas entrevistas e Mapas Falantes (Dinâmica de Criatividade e Sensibilidade) com 19 cuidadores de crianças com necessidades especiais, atendidas em instituições assistenciais em Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, em 2020. Para análise dos dados, utilizou-se análise temática. Resultados: Destacou-se a fragilidade do Sistema de Cuidados à Saúde, permeada por: dificuldades para acesso ao diagnóstico e consultas; sobrecarga para o cuidado; (des)organização do itinerário de cuidado; e desconstrução do vínculo, por falhas na comunicação e acolhimento. Conclusão: A desconstrução do itinerário terapêutico de crianças com necessidades especiais envolveu, sobretudo, o contexto profissional no Sistema de Cuidado à Saúde, levando à busca por atenção em serviços privados e em instituições assistenciais.

Needs assessment in unmet healthcare and family support services: A survey of caregivers of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in Delaware

The study aimed to collect data from families of children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the state of Delaware, USA to understand their ongoing needs and challenges in accessing child healthcare and family support services. We analyzed responses from 263 caregivers of children and youth with ASD from 3 to 24 years using a statewide needs assessment survey. Over 50% caregivers indicated having unmet needs relative to both child/youth healthcare services and family support services. Between 24 and 38% caregivers expressed unmet needs for healthcare services such as social skills training, speech-language therapy, behavioral intervention, and occupational therapy for their child and 20-24% expressed needs for family support services such as respite care, parent/sibling support groups, counseling, and babysitting support. Additionally, number of prior early interventions received, limitations in accessing healthcare services, and unmet needs for family support services significantly predicted child/youth unmet healthcare needs. Greater ASD severity and difficulties accessing child/youth healthcare services predicted participant's functional dependence on caregivers for activities of daily living. Together, these findings call for designing holistic, family-centered interventions that address needs of both children and youth with ASD and their families. LAY SUMMARY: A statewide needs assessment survey of caregivers of children and youth with ASD revealed that 50% responders had unmet needs relative to both child/youth healthcare services and family support services. Number of prior services received, limitations in accessing healthcare, and unmet needs for family support are linked to child/youth unmet healthcare needs. Severity of autism and difficulties accessing child/youth healthcare are associated with participant's functional dependence. Together, these findings call for placing the family at the heart of the service system in ASD.