The Effect of Medical Home on Shared Decision-Making for Caregivers of Children with Emotional, Developmental, or Behavioral Health Conditions

Collaborative Care and Healthcare Usage in Families with Pediatric Patients During COVID-19: A Secondary Analysis of National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) Data

One of the most detrimental side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the needed but not received care. Forgone health care affects the general public, but particularly children with special care needs. Previous research focused on non-modifiable factors, such as demographic background and insurance coverage. Based on Politi and Street's model of collaborative decision-making, we explored how two modifiable communication factors contributed to the prevention of forgone pediatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a nationally representative sample (n = 10845) from the 2020 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) survey, we found that health-care providers' family-centered communication and shared decision-making may reduce the possibility of forgone care through improved satisfaction with providers' communication. For children with mental health needs, providers' family-centered communication may also stimulate family's capacity to openly communicate, leading to better involvement in care and timely health care seeking. This helps to address COVID-related uncertainty, prevent higher health-care expenditures, and reduce negative health outcomes.

Care coordination and unmet need for specialised health services among children with special healthcare needs in the USA: results from a cross-sectional analysis of the national survey of children with special healthcare needs

OBJECTIVE

To report rates of need and unmet need for specialised health services (occupational and speech therapies, durable medical equipment, home healthcare, and mobility and communication aids) from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) (2009/2010) and assess the role of care coordination in having needs met. We distinguish between CSHCN with and without emotional, behavioural and developmental disorders (EBDPs) in the USA.

DESIGN

A cross sectional cohort study of a nationally representative sample of CSHCN from the National Survey of CSHCN for 2009/2010 used logistic regression to assess the relationship between EBDPs and need and unmet need for specialised services. It also estimates the association of care coordination with unmet need for all services, for CSHCN with and without EBDPs.

SETTING

A nationally representative sample of CSHCN in the USA.

PARTICIPANTS

Children ages 0-17 years of age.

RESULTS

Across all specialised health services, rates of unmet need were at or below 25%. Need and unmet need for most services was higher among CSHCN with EBDPs than those without. For CSHCN with and without EBDPs, adequate care coordination was associated with greater probability of having needs for therapy, home health and communication aids met.

CONCLUSION

Care coordination is essential to reducing barriers to a wide range of healthcare services for CSCHN. Policies requiring adequate insurance coverage for care coordination may play a critical role in ensuring access to specialised health services.