Increasing access to psychological services within pediatric rheumatology care.

BACKGROUND: Given the impact of psychological factors on rheumatic disease, pediatric psychologists serve a vital role in promoting quality of life and managing common problems among youth with rheumatic disease. The aim of this project was to increase access to psychological services among youth with rheumatic disease at a children's hospital. METHODS: A quality improvement (QI) team identified key drivers and interventions aimed to increase access to psychological services for youth with rheumatic disease. Data was collected for a 6-month baseline period and 4-year intervention period. We applied the Plan-Do-Study Act method of QI and the American Society for Quality criteria to adjust the center line and control limits. RESULTS: There were two statistically significant center line shifts in the number of patients seen by psychology and one statistically significant shift in referrals to psychology over time with applied stepwise interventions. Patients seen by a psychologist increased by 3,173% from a baseline average of 1.8 to 59.9 patients seen per month (p < 0.03). Psychology referrals increased by 48% from a baseline average of 9.85 to 14.58 referrals per month over the intervention period (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Youth with rheumatic disease received increased access to mental health treatment when psychological services were imbedded within rheumatology care. Psychology referrals also increased significantly, suggesting that psychology integration within a medical clinic can increase identification of needs. Results suggest that psychology integration into rheumatology care may increase access to mental health treatment and identification of psychological needs in this at-risk population.

Clinical Characterization of Juvenile Fibromyalgia in a Multicenter Cohort of Adolescents Enrolled in a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Juvenile fibromyalgia (JFM) is a complex chronic pain condition that remains poorly understood. The study aimed to expand the clinical characterization of JFM in a large representative sample of adolescents with JFM and identify psychological factors that predict pain interference. METHODS: Participants were 203 adolescents (ages 12-17 years) who completed baseline assessments for the multisite Fibromyalgia Integrative Training for Teens (FIT Teens) randomized control trial. Participants completed the Pain and Symptom Assessment Tool, which includes a Widespread Pain Index (WPI; 0-18 pain locations) and Symptom Severity checklist of associated somatic symptoms (SS; 0-12) based on the 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia. Participants also completed self-report measures of pain intensity, functional impairment, and psychological functioning. RESULTS: Participants endorsed a median of 11 painful body sites (WPI score) and had a median SS score of 9. Fatigue and nonrestorative sleep were prominent features and rated as moderate to severe by 85% of participants. Additionally, neurologic, autonomic, gastroenterologic, and psychological symptoms were frequently endorsed. The WPI score was significantly correlated with pain intensity and catastrophizing, while SS scores were associated with pain intensity and all domains of physical and psychological functioning. Depressive symptoms, fatigue, and pain catastrophizing predicted severity of pain impairment. CONCLUSION: JFM is characterized by chronic widespread pain with fatigue, nonrestorative sleep, and other somatic symptoms. However, how diffusely pain is distributed appears less important to clinical outcomes and impairment than other somatic and psychological factors, highlighting the need for a broader approach to the assessment and treatment of JFM.

FIT Teens RCT for juvenile fibromyalgia: Protocol adaptations in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Objective: To describe protocol adaptations to the Fibromyalgia Integrative Training for Teens (FIT Teens) randomized controlled trial in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The overarching aims of the FIT Teens multi-site 3-arm comparative effectiveness trial are to assess whether a specialized neuromuscular exercise training intervention combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is superior to CBT alone or graded aerobic exercise alone. Design/methods: The trial was originally designed as an in-person, group-based treatment with assessments at baseline, mid- and post-treatment, and four follow-up time points. The original study design and methodology was maintained with specific modifications to screening, consenting, assessments, and group-based treatments to be delivered in remote (telehealth) format in response to COVID-19 restrictions. Results: Study enrollment was paused in March 2020 for five months to revise operations manuals, pilot remote treatment sessions for accuracy and fidelity, complete programming of REDCap assent/consent and assessment materials, train study staff for new procedures and obtain regulatory approvals. The trial was relaunched and has been successfully implemented in remote format since July 2020. Trial metrics thus far demonstrate a consistent rate of enrollment, strong attendance at remote treatment sessions, high retention rates and high treatment fidelity after protocol adaptations were implemented. Conclusions: Preliminary findings indicate that FIT Teens protocol adaptations from in-person to remote are feasible and allowed for sustained enrollment, retention, and treatment fidelity comparable to the in-person format. Methodologic and statistical considerations resulting from the adaptations are discussed as well as implications for interpretation of results upon completion of the trial.

Targeted provider education and pre-visit planning increase rates of formal depression screening in childhood-onset SLE.

BACKGROUND: Despite being at high risk for depression, patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE) are infrequently and inconsistently screened for depression by their pediatric rheumatologists. We aimed to systematically increase rates of formal depression screening for c-SLE patients in an academic Pediatric Rheumatology clinic. METHODS: Our multi-disciplinary quality improvement (QI) team used electronic health record (EHR) documentation to retroactively calculate baseline rates of documented depression screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We then engaged key stakeholders to develop a clinical workflow for formal depression screening in the clinic. We also provided education to providers regarding mental health disorders in c-SLE, with an emphasis on prevalence, screening methods, and management of positive screens. We then used the Plan-Do-Study Act (PDSA) method of QI to systematically evaluate and adjust our process in real time. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients with c-SLE seen per month who had a documented PHQ-9 screening within the past year. RESULTS: The percentage of children with documented PHQ-9 results ranged from 0 to 4.5 % at baseline to 91.0 % within 12 months of project initiation. By the end of the project, monthly screening rates greater than 80 % has been sustained for 10 months. As a result of these efforts, twenty-seven (48.2 %) patients with at least mild depressive symptoms were identified while seven (12.5 %) with thoughts of self-harm were referred to appropriate mental health resources. CONCLUSIONS: Routine formal depression screening is feasible in a busy subspecialty clinic. Using QI methods, rates of formal depression screening among children with c-SLE were increased from an average of 3.3 % per month to a sustained monthly rate of greater than 80 %. Individuals with depressive symptoms and/or thoughts of self-harm were identified and referred to appropriate mental health resources.

Disease Self-Efficacy and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease.

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Research suggests that vulnerability factors (eg, disease severity) and self-management resources (eg, disease self-efficacy) jointly impact health outcomes, including HRQOL; however, this has not been studied among AYA with SCD. This study examined the relationship between disease self-efficacy, HRQOL, and disease severity in AYA with SCD. HRQOL was positively correlated with disease self-efficacy and negatively correlated with disease severity. Disease self-efficacy and severity accounted for 35% of variance in HRQOL. Findings support the impact of disease self-efficacy on HRQOL.

Health-Related Quality of Life Predicts Psychology Referral in Youth with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

PURPOSE: The current study sought to explore psychosocial data gathered from routine screening within an interdisciplinary IBD program, with two-fold aims: 1) to examine parent-child agreement across health-related quality of life domains and 2) to evaluate the differential predictive value of child and parent ratings of health-related quality of life domains on referrals for psychological services. DESIGN AND METHODS: A convenience sample of 92 youth (ages 8-18) and their parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. RESULTS: Children and parents showed moderate to good agreement across health-related quality of life domains. Additionally, regression analyses revealed that child and parent-proxy reports of emotional difficulties, parent report of school difficulties, and child report of physical symptoms were significantly predictive of psychology referral status. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest moderate to good agreement among child and parent-proxy reporters and support the shared value of both child and parent ratings of health-related quality of life in predicting psychology referrals in youth with IBD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Routine psychosocial screening among youth with IBD can promote the early identification of emotional and behavioral needs, and family receipt of appropriate, evidence-based intervention.

Enhancing Pain Assessment in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease by Applying Quality Improvement Science.

OBJECTIVE: Standardized pain assessment and interventions are recommended for youth hospitalized for pain. This quality improvement (QI) project integrated into a pediatric psychology service aimed to increase the standardized assessment of pain-related functional ability for youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) hospitalized for pain. METHODS: Children and adolescents (n=102) with SCD referred for psychology consultation for poor coping in response to pain during hospitalization completed a validated self-report of functional ability in addition to pain intensity during inpatient psychology visits. At the time of the quality initiative, routine and standardized assessment of pain-related functional ability was not integrated into standard clinical care. Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles determined the feasibility and addressed common barriers of routine assessment and documentation of pain-related functional ability among youth with SCD during inpatient psychology visits with the primary goal to increase assessment of functional ability to at least 85% among patients with SCD referred for pediatric psychology consultation to address pain management within 1 year. RESULTS: Through iterative PDSA cycles, routine assessment of pain-related functional ability during psychology visits increased to an average of 93% over the course of 12 months. Routine, standardized assessment of functional ability was considered feasible within a pediatric psychology service. CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED: This project supported the feasibility of integrating standardized assessment of functional ability to enhance pain assessment for youth hospitalized for SCD pain as part of routine clinical care in a multidisciplinary setting regardless of psychology referral.

Parent pain catastrophizing predicts child depressive symptoms in youth with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for recurrent pain and depressive symptoms, both of which contribute to poorer health outcomes. Furthermore, youth and family coping with child pain, including pain catastrophizing, is known to be associated with poorer psychosocial adjustment and greater functional disability among youth with SCD. In particular, child catastrophizing about pain and parent catastrophizing about their child's pain have been linked to increased pain and depressive symptoms in youth with chronic pain conditions. Despite this, the impact of child and parent pain catastrophizing on depressive symptoms remains unexplored in pediatric SCD. PROCEDURE: The current study evaluated the predictive value of child and parent pain catastrophizing on child depressive symptoms in a sample of 100 youth with SCD. Differences in child and parent pain catastrophizing across youth with and without clinically elevated depressive symptoms were also examined. RESULTS: Pain frequency and parent and child pain catastrophizing accounted for 35.9% of variance in child depressive symptoms, with only pain frequency and parent pain catastrophizing emerging as unique predictors of clinically elevated depressive symptoms. Additionally, parents of youth with clinically elevated depressive symptoms showed increased helplessness relative to parents of youth with minimal to mild depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the value of depression screening and interventions to promote parent self-efficacy in managing childhood SCD pain.

Patient Perspectives on Gene Transfer Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic genetic disease with high morbidity and early mortality; it affects nearly 100,000 individuals in the USA. Bone marrow transplantation, the only curative treatment, is available to less than 20% of patients because of a number of access barriers. Gene transfer therapy (GTT) has been shown to be curative in animal models and is approved for use in humans for early-phase studies at a few centers. GTT would offer a more accessible treatment option available to all patients. It is important to understand patient perspectives on GTT to help ensure human clinical trial success. METHODS: Two focus groups were conducted with younger (18-30 years) and older (31 years and older) adults with SCD to obtain data on patient knowledge and beliefs about GTT. Data from these two focus groups was used to develop a GTT educational brochure. A third focus group was conducted to obtain participant feedback on acceptability and feasibility of education and the brochure. RESULTS: Most adults, especially young adults, had little knowledge about GTT and expressed fear and uncertainty about the side effects of chemotherapy (e.g., hair loss, infertility), use of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-derived viral vector, and potential for cancer risk. Participants wanted full transparency in educational materials, but advised researchers not to share the vector's relation to HIV because of cultural stigma and no HIV virus is used for the GTT vector. CONCLUSION: Older adults had more desire to participate in human clinical GTT trials than younger participants. When recruiting for trials, researchers should develop GTT educational materials that address participant lack of trust in the healthcare system, cultural beliefs, fears related to side effects, and include visual illustrations. Use of such materials will provide adults with SCD the information they need to fully evaluate GTT.