Effect of Care Coordination Using an Allied Health Liaison Officer for Chronic Noncomplex Medical Conditions in Children: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: There is a paucity of high-quality evidence on the effect of care coordination on health-related quality of life among children with chronic noncomplex medical conditions (non-CMCs). OBJECTIVE: To examine whether care coordination delivered by an Allied Health Liaison Officer results in improved quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes for children with chronic non-CMCs and their families. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter, open label, randomized clinical trial was conducted in pediatric outpatient clinics at 3 Australian hospitals with tertiary- and secondary-level pediatric care facilities. A total of 81 children with chronic non-CMCs and their families participated in the trial for a period of up to 12 months between October 2017 to October 2020. Primary care reviews were offered at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: Eligible children were randomized 1:1 to receive care coordination or standard care. Families of children receiving care coordination were provided access to an Allied Health Liaison Officer, who was responsible for facilitation of health care access across hospital, education, primary care, and community sectors. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes were scores on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), version 4.0, and the PedsQL Family Impact Module, version 2.0, measured at 6 and 12 months. An intent-to-treat approach was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Of 81 children (mean [SD] age, 8.2 [3.5] years; 55 [67.9%] male), 42 (51.9%) were randomized to care coordination and 39 (48.1%) to standard care. Compared with standard care, care coordination resulted in greater improvements in overall PedsQL scores (difference in score changes between groups, 7.10; 95% CI, 0.44-13.76; P = .04), overall PedsQL Family Impact Module scores (difference in score changes between groups, 8.62; 95% CI, 1.07-16.16; P = .03), and family functioning QOL (difference in score changes between groups, 15.83; 95% CI, 5.05-26.62; P = .004) at 12 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial, care coordination improved the quality of life of children with chronic non-CMCs and their families. Further studies should explore specific non-CMCs that may benefit most from care coordination and whether an orientation among health services to provide such a coordination model could lead to longer-term improved clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12617001188325.

Integrated children's clinic care (ICCC) versus a self-directed care pathway for children with a chronic health condition: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Children with chronic health conditions have better health-related outcomes when their care is managed in a personalised and coordinated way. However, increased demand on Australian ambulatory care hospital services has led to longer waitlist times to access specialists and appropriate intervention services; placing vulnerable children at increased risk of poorer short-term (e.g. social difficulties) and long-term (e.g. convictions) health and social outcomes. Traditional approaches to increasing frequency and service of delivery are expensive and can have minimal impact on caregiver burden. A community based service-integration approach, rather than self-directed care is proposed as increased service linkages are more likely to occur and improve the health outcomes of children with a chronic health condition. METHODS: An open, unblinded, multi-centre randomised controlled trial in two Australian public hospitals. 112 children (0-16 years) fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be randomised to one of two clinical pathways for management of their chronic health condition: (1) integrated children's care clinic (ICCC) or (2) self-directed care pathway. All children and caregivers will be interviewed at 1 week, and 3, 6 and 12 month time intervals. Primary outcome measures include the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedQOL) questionnaire, Subjective Units of Distress Scale, Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Rotter's Locus of Control Scale. Secondary outcome measures include the total number of medical appointments, school days missed and quantity of services accessed. Our main objectives are to determine if the ICCC results in better health and economics outcomes compared to the self-directed care pathway. DISCUSSION: The success of a health systems approach needs to be balanced against clinical, mortality and cost-effectiveness data for long-term sustainability within a publicly funded health system. A clinical pathway that is sustainable, cost-effective, provides efficient evidence-based care and improves the quality of life outcomes for children with chronic health conditions has the potential to reduce waitlist times, improve access to health services, increase consumer satisfaction; and prevent costs associated with poorly managed chronic health conditions into adulthood. This study will be the first to provide clinical and health economics data on an integrated care pathway for the management of chronic health conditions in children. On a broader scale, results from this study will help guide care coordination frameworks for children with chronic health conditions; particularly with the introduction and implementation of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) across Australia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR) ACTRN12617001188325 . Registered: 14th August, 2017.