Narrowing the Divide: The Role of Telehealth in Type 1 Diabetes Care for Marginalized Communities.

Widespread uptake of telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted geographic, demographic, and economic disparities in access to virtual care. However, research studies and clinical programs that predate the pandemic demonstrate the potential for telehealth-based interventions to improve access to and outcomes of type 1 diabetes (T1D) care for individuals in geographically or socially marginalized communities. In this expert commentary, we discuss telehealth-based care models that have been successful in improving care for marginalized T1D populations. We also outline the policy changes needed to expand access to such interventions to reduce established disparities in T1D care and promote better health equity among people living with T1D.

Caregiver Experiences in Pediatric Hospitalizations: Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement.

BACKGROUND: There are limited qualitative data describing general pediatric hospitalizations through the caregivers' lens, and most focus on one particular challenge or time during the hospitalization. This qualitative study aimed to address a gap in the description of the breadth and depth of personal challenges caregivers may face during the entire hospitalization, irrespective of severity of patient illness or diagnosis, and explored caregiver-suggested interventions. METHODS: Caregivers of pediatric patients on the hospitalist service at a Pacific Northwest children's hospital were interviewed to explore their hospitalization experience and solicit feedback for potential interventions. Content was coded iteratively using a framework analysis until thematic saturation was met. Findings were triangulated through 2 focus groups, 1 with parent advisors and the other with hospital physicians and nurses. RESULTS: Among 14 caregivers (7 each of readmitted and newly admitted patients) and focus group participants, emergent domains on difficulties faced with their child's hospitalization were anchored on physiologic (sleep, personal hygiene, and food), psychosocial (feelings of isolation, mental stress), and communication challenges (information flow between families and the medical teams). Caregivers recognized that addressing physiologic and psychosocial needs better enabled them to advocate for their child and suggested interventions to ameliorate hospital challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing physiologic and psychosocial needs may reduce barriers to caregivers optimally caring and advocating for their child. Downstream consequences of unaddressed caregiver challenges should be explored in relation to participation in hospital care and confidence in shared decision-making, both vital components for optimization of family-centered care.

Below the Surface: Caregivers' Experience of Hospital-to-Home Transitions.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to understand the breadth of the hospital-to-home experience from the caregiver perspective using a mixed method approach. METHODS: Caregivers of children who experienced an inpatient admission (N = 184) completed a hospital-to-home transition questionnaire after discharge. Twenty-six closed-ended survey items captured child's hospitalization, discharge, and postdischarge experiences and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Four additional free-response items allowed caregivers to expand on specific challenges or issues. A conventional content analysis coding framework was applied to the free responses. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of caregivers reported satisfaction with the hospital experience and 88% reported they understood how to manage their child's health after discharge. A majority of survey respondents (74%) provided answers to 1 or more of the qualitative free-response items. In the predischarge period, qualitative responses centered on concerns related to finances or available resources and support, communication, hospital environment, and the discharge process. Responses for the postdischarge time period centered on family well-being (child health, other family member health), finances (bills, cost of missed work), and medical follow-up (supplies, appointments, instruction). CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers were generally satisfied with their hospital experience; however, incorporating survey items specifically related to family stressors either through closed- or open-ended questions gave a richer context for caregiver-identified concerns. Basing future quality improvement efforts on supporting caregiver needs and identifying stressors before discharge may make for a more robust and successful transition to home.

A Systematic Review of External Validity in Pediatric Integrated Primary Care Trials.

OBJECTIVE: We used the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework to conduct a systematic review of external validity reporting in integrated primary care (IPC) interventions for mental health concerns. METHODS: We searched Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials, and relevant literature to identify publications from 1998 to 2018 reporting on open, randomized, or quasi-randomized trials of IPC interventions that targeted child (ages 0-18 years) psychological symptoms. For each publication, we extracted the information reported in each RE-AIM domain and calculated the proportion of the total studies reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine publications describing 25 studies were included in the review. Publications rarely reported some indicators of external validity, including the representativeness of participants (12%), rate of adoption clinics or providers (16%), cost of implementation (8%), or evidence of maintenance (16%). Few studies reported on key pragmatic factors such as cost or organizational change processes related to implementation and maintenance. Strengths of some studies included comparisons of multiple active treatments, use of tailorable interventions, and implementation in "real world" settings. CONCLUSIONS: Although IPC interventions appear efficacious under research conditions, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the degree to which they reach and engage target recipients, what factors impact adoption and implementation of IPC interventions by clinicians, how fidelity can be maintained over time, and cost-effectiveness. Pediatric IPC researchers should embrace dissemination and implementation science methods to balance internal and external validity concerns moving forward.

The Role of Caregiver-Reported Risks in Predicting Adverse Pediatric Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Certain social risk factors (e.g., housing instability, food insecurity) have been shown to directly and indirectly influence pediatric health outcomes; however, there is limited understanding of which social factors are most salient for children admitted to the hospital. This study examines how caregiver-reported social and medical characteristics of children experiencing an inpatient admission are associated with the presence of future health complications. METHODS: Caregivers of children experiencing an inpatient admission (N = 249) completed a predischarge questionnaire designed to capture medical and social risk factors across systems (e.g., patient, caregiver, family, community, healthcare environment). Electronic health record (EHR) data were reviewed for child demographic data, chronic disease status, and subsequent emergency department visits or readmissions (i.e., acute events) 90 days postindex hospitalization. Associations between risk factors and event presence were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CI), both unadjusted and adjusted OR (aOR) for chronic disease and age. RESULTS: Thirty-three percent (N = 82) of children experienced at least one event. After accounting for child age and chronic disease status, caregiver perceptions of child's health being generally "poor" or "not good" prior to discharge (aOR = 4.7, 95% CI = 2.3, 9.7), having high care coordination needs (aOR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.6, 6.1), and experiencing difficulty accessing care coordination (aOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.4, 4.7) were significantly associated with return events. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver report of risks may provide valuable information above and beyond EHR records to both determine risk of future health problems and inform intervention development.

Small Interventions for Big Change: Brief Strategies for Distress and Self-Management Amongst Youth with Type 1 Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetes self-management and diabetes distress are complex processes implicated in glycemic control and other health outcomes for youth with type 1 diabetes. Growing integration of medical and behavioral care provides opportunities for brief psychosocial interventions during routine diabetes care. This review focuses on interventions for self-management and diabetes distress that can be delivered alongside usual medical care or via a single-patient encounter. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent research underscores the potential of brief interventions delivered by both medical providers and integrated behavioral health professionals, but little is known regarding the comparative effectiveness of different interventions or the factors that impact dissemination and implementation. This article asserts that brevity is critical to maximizing the reach, scalability, and impact of psychosocial interventions for youth with type 1 diabetes. The authors review existing evidence for brief interventions, describe several untested clinical strategies, and make recommendations for accelerating the translational study of brief interventions.

Identification of Caregiver-Reported Social Risk Factors in Hospitalized Children.

OBJECTIVES: Although health systems are increasingly moving toward addressing social determinants of health, social risk screening for hospitalized children is largely unexplored. We sought to determine if inpatient screening was feasible and describe the prevalence of social risk among children and caregivers, with special attention given to children with chronic conditions. METHODS: Caregivers of pediatric patients on the hospitalist service at a children's hospital in the Pacific Northwest completed a social risk survey in 2017. This survey was used to capture items related to caregiver demographics; socioeconomic, psychosocial, and household risks; and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Charts were reviewed for child demographics and medical complexity. Results were tabulated as frequency distributions, and analyses compared the association of risk factors with a child's medical complexity by using χ2 tests. RESULTS: A total of 265 out of 304 (87%) caregivers consented to participate. One in 3 families endorsed markers of financial stress (eg, difficulty paying for food, rent, or utilities). Forty percent experienced medical bill or insurance troubles. Caregiver mental health concerns were prevalent, affecting over one-third of all respondents. ACEs were also common, with 38% of children having at least 1 ACE. The presence of any ACE was more likely for children with chronic conditions than those without. CONCLUSIONS: We found that social risk screening in the inpatient setting was feasible; social risk was uniformly common and did not disproportionately affect those with chronic diseases. Knowing the prevalence of social risk may assist in appropriate alignment of interventions tiered by social complexity.

The impact of behavioral health consultations on medical encounter duration in pediatric primary care: A retrospective match-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: The disproportionate time required to effectively manage psychosocial concerns is a key barrier to advancing delivery of behavioral care by primary care providers. Improved time efficiency is one potential benefit of the integration of behavioral health consultants (BHCs) into pediatric care, but few studies have systematically studied this outcome. We examined the impact of embedded BHCs on duration of medical encounters in a pediatric primary care clinic. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective matched-pairs analysis of encounters involving behavioral consultations versus encounters for similar patients that did not include a consultation (N = 114) using electronic health record timestamp data. We examined both medical duration (i.e., medical provider services) and total duration (i.e., medical services + behavioral consultation). RESULTS: Patient encounters involving behavioral consultation had a significantly longer (+11.23 min) total duration than matched controls, but significantly shorter (-11.67 min) medical duration. DISCUSSION: The results indicate BHCs may improve primary care provider efficiency for patients with behavioral concerns, a notable finding given the impact of clinical time-constraints on important health care outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

All systems go: An ecological perspective of behavioral health for youth with type 1 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experiencing self-management difficulties are at risk of irreversible long-term health problems and consume a disproportionate amount of health care resources. Behavioral health interventions for this population have shown limited long-term effects, perhaps because of limited research on and intervention in relevant environments. To effectively intervene, providers must first thoroughly understand how risk factors interact with various contexts (e.g., school, home, hospital) to determine opportunities for the development of relevant interventions. METHOD: This review utilized an ecological systems framework to examine the state of the literature with regard to risk factors for poor T1D outcomes and associated intervention. RESULTS: This review identified that, whereas risk factors in some systems (e.g., individual, family) have received disproportionate scrutiny, other environments and contexts (e.g., school, medical system) have been relatively neglected by researchers. Similarly, interventions that target understudied environments are lacking, and the majority of rigorously studied interventions only target a single context. Perhaps this accounts for the lack of interventions shown to have a long-term impact on glycemic control. DISCUSSION: Our review demonstrates that researchers and funding agencies should prioritize efforts that (a) examine the influence of underexamined environments (e.g., primary care clinics, schools) and interactions (e.g., health care provider to parent, school nurse to youth) on T1D outcomes, (b) place increased emphasis on inclusion of understudied populations (e.g., families of minority racial/ethnic backgrounds), and (c) develop and evaluate interventions that specifically are tailored for these settings, interactions, and populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Distal technologies and type 1 diabetes management.

Type 1 diabetes requires intensive self-management to avoid acute and long-term health complications. In the past two decades, substantial advances in technology have enabled more effective and convenient self-management of type 1 diabetes. Although proximal technologies (eg, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, closed-loop and artificial pancreas systems) have been the subject of frequent systematic and narrative reviews, distal technologies have received scant attention. Distal technologies refer to electronic systems designed to provide a service remotely and include heterogeneous systems such as telehealth, mobile health applications, game-based support, social platforms, and patient portals. In this Review, we summarise the empirical literature to provide current information about the effectiveness of available distal technologies to improve type 1 diabetes management. We also discuss privacy, ethics, and regulatory considerations, issues of global adoption, knowledge gaps in distal technology, and recommendations for future directions.

NICH at Its Best for Diabetes at Its Worst: Texting Teens and Their Caregivers for Better Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence for the feasibility of text-based interventions for pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, less is known regarding whether the use of personalized text messages with high-risk youth and their caregivers is associated with improvements in youth health. This study examines the use of diabetes-specific texts and associated health outcomes for participants of the Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH) program. METHODS: Text messages sent to youth with T1D and their caregivers during NICH intervention were coded regarding diabetes relevance and adherence-related content. Health outcome data (eg, HbA1c values, hospital admissions) prior to and following NICH program enrollment were collected. RESULTS: Fewer than half (43%) of texts sent to patients and their caregivers were identified as being related to diabetes, and over 95% of diabetes-related texts were identified as adherence-related. Participants in the NICH program demonstrated a significant decrease in HbA1c values, t(23) = 2.78, p ≤ .05, and DKA-related hospital visits, t(24) = 2.78, p ≤ .01, during program involvement. Although no relationships were identified between patient-recipient text characteristics and health outcomes, the frequency and type of text messaging with caregivers was significantly associated with changes in health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the most extensive evaluation of diabetes-related SMS use and health outcomes for NICH participants to date. Findings demonstrate improvements in patient health during NICH program involvement. Implications include that sending frequent, personalized, and adherence-reinforcing texts to patients' caregivers may result in improved patient health, decreased utilization, and, potentially, associated reductions in health care costs.

Partnering with Insurers in Caring for the Most Vulnerable Youth with Diabetes: NICH as an Integrator.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this review, we outline barriers to appropriately caring for high-risk youth with diabetes and discuss efforts in partnering with insurers through Alternative Payment Models to achieve the Triple Aim (improved health, improved care, and reduced costs) for this population. RECENT FINDINGS: Current approaches in caring for youth with diabetes who evidence a high degree of social complexity are woefully ineffective. These youth are vulnerable to repeat diabetic ketoacidosis episodes, poor glycemic control, and excessive utilization of healthcare resources. To effectively pursue the Triple Aim, an "integrator" (i.e., an entity that accepts responsibility for all components of the Triple Aim for a specified population) must be identified; however, this does not fit into current fee-for-service models. Integrators for youth with diabetes are limited, but early examples of integrator efforts are promising. We present one successful "integrator," Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH), and detail this program's efforts in partnering with insurers to serve high-risk youth with diabetes.

Effects of multisystemic therapy on caregivers of serious juvenile offenders: A 20-year follow-up to a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Caregivers of serious juvenile offenders often hold favorable attitudes about criminality and frequently have histories of involvement in antisocial behaviors themselves. In the present study, the authors examined the long-term criminal and noncriminal outcomes for caregivers of serious juvenile offenders who had participated two decades earlier in a randomized clinical trial of multisystemic therapy (MST; Borduin et al., 1995). METHOD: Participants were 276 caregivers of serious juvenile offenders who were originally randomized to MST or individual therapy (IT). Criminal and civil suit data for caregivers were obtained during a 20.7-year follow-up when caregivers were on average 61.5 years old. RESULTS: Caregivers in the MST condition had 94% fewer felonies and 70% fewer misdemeanors than did caregivers in the IT condition. In addition, caregivers in the IT condition were sentenced to 92% more days of incarceration and had 50% more family-related civil suits. Moreover, the favorable long-term effects of MST on caregiver criminality and civil suits were mediated by improved family relations during treatment. CONCLUSION: The present study represents the only follow-up to date of caregivers in an MST clinical trial and demonstrates the broader clinical benefits of a family-based treatment for serious juvenile offenders. Implications of the findings for policymakers and researchers are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

A Survey of Parents' Perceptions and Use of Time-out Compared to Empirical Evidence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess parents' perceptions and use of time-out (TO) in contrast to empirical indications and examine the relationship between reported implementation procedures and perceived effectiveness. METHODS: We surveyed parents of preschool and school-age children (n = 401, aged 15 months to 10 years) at well-child visits with regard to their awareness, perception, and usage of TO. Parents were specifically surveyed regarding TO components that have been empirically evaluated or pertain directly to its underlying behavioral principles. Descriptive analyses, group comparisons, and correlational analyses were used to characterize responses and evaluate the relationship between TO administration variation and perceived effectiveness. RESULTS: Most parents (76.8%) reported using TO in response to misbehavior, but a large majority of these parents (84.9%) reported implementing TO in a manner counter to empirical evidence. Parents who endorsed TO as effective varied significantly from those who did not on key implementation components (eg, use of a single warning). Further, several reported implementation practices were correlated with perceived effectiveness and challenging child behavior. For example, requiring a child to be calm before ending TO was positively correlated with perceived effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: These results cement TO as a widely disseminated practice but cast doubt on the fidelity with which it is typically implemented. Better methods of educating parents on evidence-based discipline are needed.

Texting Adolescents in Repeat DKA and Their Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Text message interventions are feasible, preferable, and sometimes effective for youth with diabetes. However, few, if any studies, have examined the personalized use of text messages with youth repeatedly hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and their caregivers. This study characterizes the use of personalized text messages in Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH). METHODS: Approximately 2 months of text messages sent to youth with repeat DKA and their caregivers were logged regarding the following text characteristics: (1) content, (2) intervention type, (3) timing, and (4) recipient characteristics. RESULTS: NICH interventionists sent 2.3 and 1.5 texts per day to patients and caregivers, respectively. Approximately 59% of outgoing texts occurred outside of typical business hours, and roughly 68% of texts contained some form of support and/or encouragement. The relation between type of intended intervention and day/time of text was significant, χ(2)(2, N = 5,808) = 266.93, P < .001. Interventionists were more likely to send behavioral intervention text messages outside of business hours, whereas they were more likely to send care coordination and case management text messages during business hours. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically categorize and describe the personalized use of text messages with youth repeatedly hospitalized for DKA and their caregivers. Findings indicate that a promising treatment program for these youth frequently used text interventions to deliver praise and encouragement to patients and caregivers alike, often outside of typical business hours, and tailored text content based on patient and caregiver characteristics.

Videoconferencing for Teens With Diabetes: Family Matters.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a developmental period associated with increased difficulty managing diabetes. During adolescence family functioning, including miscarried helping, family conflict, and acceptance of illness, is an important predictor of adherence to treatment recommendations. Multiple barriers exist to receiving behavioral health interventions to address suboptimal adherence. We hypothesized that behavioral family systems therapy-diabetes (BFST-D) delivered via telehealth would yield changes in family functioning that were not significantly different than changes in clinic-based treatment. Furthermore, that BFST-D would significantly improve overall family functioning. METHODS: Ninety adolescent participants and their parents were randomized to receive BFST-D via telehealth or traditional (Clinic) treatment conditions. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to assess changes in mean scores across pre, post, and follow-up assessments. Mediation analyses were conducted using methods outlined by Sobel and were confirmed by bootstrapping. RESULTS: Changes in miscarried helping, family conflict and adjustment to illness were not significantly different across groups. Overall, clinically significant improvements were identified in youth- and parent-reported miscarried helping, family conflict, and acceptance of illness. Reductions in family conflict mediated the relationship between changes in miscarried helping and acceptance of illness. In addition, improvements in family functioning were associated with changes in adherence and glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide strong support for BFST-D (and similar interventions) delivered via telehealth as yielding outcomes no different than clinic-based treatment. In addition, further support was provided for the effectiveness of BFST-D.

Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare for Youth Hospitalized for Chronic Pain.

The purpose of this study was to pilot the implementation of the Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH) program for youth with chronic pain who utilized a disproportionate amount of health care. Three youth (2 males and 1 female, aged 11 to 15 years) participated. The intervention consisted of a combination of family-based problem-solving, care coordination, and case management, with the inclusion of technology-assisted treatment delivery (e.g., text messages, video chat) to reduce costs. Both objective (i.e., hospitalization records) and subjective (e.g., interventionist reports) outcomes were examined to assess changes over the course of treatment. Two of the three youth demonstrated reductions in the number of days hospitalized and associated costs. In addition, interventionist reports indicated improved quality of life for family and youth served. Although further research is needed, NICH appears to be a promising intervention for youth with chronic pain and high health care utilization and shows the potential to result in improved youth health and reduced monetary costs for families, providers, and the healthcare system.

Treating the most vulnerable and costly in diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is associated with negative health outcomes and high costs for patients, families, and communities. Interventions developed to effectively reduce DKA and related costs should target the multiple risk factors associated with DKA and adherence difficulties. Certain demographic, psychological, and family factors are associated with increased risk for adherence problems and DKA. Individuals with a combination of risk factors (e.g., mental health problems, low socioeconomic status, high family conflict) may be particularly vulnerable to DKA. Although several different interventions have demonstrated promise in improving adherence and/or decreasing the risk of DKA, the generalizability of treatment results to those individuals most vulnerable to DKA is limited. Approaches which include multiple evidence-based components of care, are flexible in treatment delivery (e.g., home- and community-based, utilize technology), and target the multiple risk factors across relevant systems (e.g., individual, family, school, medical) are warranted to effectively reduce DKA in vulnerable populations.