Parent Preferences on Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Hospitalized Children.

BACKGROUND: Although there has been much research on screening families for social determinants of health (SDOH) at pediatric outpatient visits, there is little data on family preferences about SDOH screening during hospitalization. This is of critical importance because unmet SDOH, also known as social needs, are associated with poor health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess caregiver preferences for social needs screening in the inpatient pediatric setting. METHODS: We surveyed a sample of caregivers of admitted patients at our freestanding tertiary-care children's hospital between March 2021 and January 2022. Caregivers were surveyed with respect to the importance of screening, their comfort with screening, and which domains were felt to be acceptable for screening. RESULTS: We enrolled 160 caregivers. More than 60% of caregivers were comfortable being screened for each of the social needs listed. Between 40% and 50% found screening acceptable, even if resources were unavailable. Forty-five percent preferred to be screened in private, 9% preferred to be screened by a health care team member, and 37% were comfortable being screened either in private or with a health care team member. Electronic screening was the most preferred modality (44%), and if by a health care team member, social workers were preferred over others. CONCLUSIONS: Many caregivers reported the acceptance of and comfort with social needs screening in the inpatient setting. Our findings may help inform future hospital-wide social needs screening efforts.

Social Risks and Health Care Utilization Among a National Sample of Children With Asthma.

OBJECTIVES: Prior studies using single-center populations have established associations between social risks and health care utilization among children with asthma. We aimed to evaluate associations between social risks and health care utilization among a nationally representative sample of children with asthma. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, we utilized the 2018-2019 National Survey of Children's Health to identify children 2 to 17 years old with asthma. Using the Healthy People (HP) 2030 social determinants of health (SDOH) framework, we identified 31 survey items assessing 18 caregiver-identified social risks as exposure variables and classified them into the 5 HP SDOH domains (Economy, Education, Health care, Community, and Environment). Primary outcome was caregiver-reported health care utilization. Associations between individual social risks and total number of SDOH domains experienced with health care utilization were assessed. RESULTS: The weighted study population included 8.05 million children, 96% of whom reported ≥1 social risk. Fourteen social risks, spanning all 5 SDOH domains, were significantly associated with increased health care utilization. The 3 risks with the highest adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of health care utilization included: experiencing discrimination (aOR 3.26 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75, 6.08]); receiving free/reduced lunch (aOR 2.16, [95% CI 1.57, 2.98]); and being a victim of violence (aOR 2.11, [95% CI 1.11, 4]). Children with risks across more SDOH domains reported significantly higher health care utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Among our national population of children with asthma, social risks are prevalent and associated with increased health care utilization, highlighting their potential contribution to pediatric asthma morbidity.

Examining the Association Between MIS-C and the Child Opportunity Index at a Single Center.

OBJECTIVE: To describe associations between the Child Opportunity Index (COI) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome of childhood (MIS-C) diagnosis among hospitalized children. METHODS: We used a retrospective case control study design to examine children ≤21 years hospitalized at a single, tertiary care children's hospital between March 2020 and June 2021. Our study population included children diagnosed with MIS-C (n = 111) and a control group of children hospitalized for MIS-C evaluation who had an alternative diagnosis (n = 61). Census tract COI was the exposure variable, determined using the patient's home address mapped to the census tract. Our outcome measure was MIS-C diagnosis. Odds ratios measured associations between COI and MIS-C diagnosis. RESULTS: Our study population included 111 children diagnosed with MIS-C and 61 children evaluated but ruled out for MIS-C. The distribution of census tract overall COI differed significantly between children diagnosed with MIS-C compared with children with an alternate diagnosis (P = .03). Children residing in census tracts with very low to low overall COI (2.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-6.17) and very low to low health/environment COI (4.69, 95% CI 2.21-9.97) had significantly higher odds of being diagnosed with MIS-C compared with children living in moderate and high to very high COI census tracts, respectively. CONCLUSION: Census tract child opportunity is associated with MIS-C diagnosis among hospitalized children suggesting an important contribution of place-based determinants in the development of MIS-C.

Cricopharyngeal Achalasia Presenting as Acute Dysphagia in a Pediatric Patient.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of idiopathic cricopharyngeal achalasia (CPA) in a pediatric patient with acute onset of dysphagia managed conservatively with supportive care. METHODS: Sixteen-month-old boy presented with acute onset of gagging and coughing with feeding. His exam was notable for a well-appearing child with pooling of oral secretions and coarse breath sounds. Plain film series did not show radio-opaque foreign body (FB) and an esophagram demonstrated an endoluminal filling defect of the cervical esophagus and aspiration of contrast. He was taken to the operating room for urgent endoscopy but no FB or food impaction was observed. He had persistent symptoms that required further evaluation and a multidisciplinary team approach. Bedside laryngoscopy did not reveal any abnormalities. Modified barium swallow (MBS) study revealed upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction, consistent with cricopharyngeal achalasia. Repeat upper endoscopy with biopsies demonstrated mucosal irritation overlying the UES but histologic studies were negative for infectious causes. RESULTS: He was treated with supportive care, including nasogastric feedings for nutrition supplementation as he was unable to tolerate oral feedings without aspiration. Over the course of 3 months after discharge, his symptoms resolved and repeat MBS was normal. CONCLUSION: CPA is a rare cause of dysphagia in the pediatric population. Conservative management with supportive care is a reasonable approach in cases with acute onset in otherwise healthy children without underlying medical problems.

Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Hospitalized Children.

OBJECTIVES: Outpatient screening for social determinants of health (SDH) improves patient access to resources. However, no studies have examined if and how inpatient pediatric providers perform SDH screening. We aimed to identify inpatient pediatric provider screening practices for SDH, barriers to screening, and the acceptability of screening for hospitalized patients. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter descriptive study at 4 children's hospitals surveying inpatient hospitalists and nurses on the general wards about their SDH screening practices. A survey instrument was developed on the basis of literature pertaining to SDH, content expert review, cognitive interviews, and survey piloting. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses are reported. RESULTS: Results from 146 hospitalists and 227 nurses were analyzed (58% and 26% response rate, respectively). Twenty-nine percent of hospitalists and 41% of nurses reported screening for ≥1 SDH frequently or with every hospitalized patient. Only 26% of hospitalists reported consistently communicating SDH needs with primary care providers. Most respondents (97% of hospitalists and 65% of nurses) reported they do not use a specific screening tool, and only 34% of hospitalists and 32% of nurses reported feeling competent screening for SDH. Lack of time, resources, and a standardized inpatient screening tool were reported as barriers to screening. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization provides an opportunity for SDH screening and connecting patients to resources; however, a minority of pediatric providers currently report screening. Professional development activities training inpatient providers in SDH screening, using a screening instrument, and communicating identified needs to primary care providers may improve the effectiveness of SDH screening in the hospital.

Pediatric cardiomyopathies: causes, epidemiology, clinical course, preventive strategies and therapies.

Pediatric cardiomyopathies, which are rare but serious disorders of the muscles of the heart, affect at least one in every 100,000 children in the USA. Approximately 40% of children with symptomatic cardiomyopathy undergo heart transplantation or die from cardiac complications within 2 years. However, a significant number of children suffering from cardiomyopathy are surviving into adulthood, making it an important chronic illness for both pediatric and adult clinicians to understand. The natural history, risk factors, prevalence and incidence of this pediatric condition were not fully understood before the 1990s. Questions regarding optimal diagnostic, prognostic and treatment methods remain. Children require long-term follow-up into adulthood in order to identify the factors associated with best clinical practice including diagnostic approaches, as well as optimal treatment approaches. In this article, we comprehensively review current research on various presentations of this disease, along with current knowledge about their causes, treatments and clinical outcomes.

Use of farmers markets by mothers of WIC recipients, Miami-Dade County, Florida, 2011.

INTRODUCTION: Farmers market-based interventions, including the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), represent a promising strategy for improving dietary behaviors in low-income communities. Little is known, however, about the health-related characteristics of low-income parents who frequent farmers markets in urban settings. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between family-health factors and the use of farmers markets by mothers of WIC recipients. METHODS: We recruited a convenience sample of mothers of children seeking care at a primary care clinic in a large urban public hospital in Miami, Florida, in 2011 (n = 181 total). The clinic was adjacent to a newly established farmers market at the hospital. Each mother completed an interviewer-administered survey that included self-reported measures of maternal and child health, acculturation, dietary behaviors, food insecurity, and use of farmers markets. RESULTS: Reported use of farmers markets was independently associated with maternal history of diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 6.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-38.3) and increased maternal vegetable (but not fruit) consumption (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.5-8.1). Intended future use of farmers markets was independently associated with being unemployed (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0-5.7), increased maternal vegetable consumption (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1-5.7), and food insecurity (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-10.3). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a snapshot of factors associated with farmers market use in a diverse population of urban low-income families. Understanding these factors may inform public health approaches to increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption in communities at high risk for preventable chronic conditions.