Mother's Milk Messaging™: trial evaluation of app and texting for breastfeeding support.

BACKGROUND: New mothers experience BF challenges but have limited evidence-based technology-enabled support. OBJECTIVES: 1) Determine if using the Mother's Milk Messaging™ app improved aspects of breastfeeding and breastfeeding rates and 2) Describe engagement as well as themes from the qualitative feedback on the app. METHOD: Randomized Controlled Trial National sample of primiparous, singleton mothers recruited online and then randomized using stratification by language into three arms: 1) BF text messages plus app; 2) BF text messages, app and physician-moderated private Facebook (FB) group; 3) Attention control group who received injury prevention texts. Exclusive breastfeeding rates as primary outcome and knowledge/attitude, confidence, and social support as secondary outcomes. We determined engagement through analysis of app usage metrics. We conducted and content-coded interviews with participants to learn more about app usage and BF experience. Due to the nature of the intervention participants could not be blinded. RESULTS: There were a total of 346 participants in the trial, with 227 in the Intervention (n = 154 group 1 and n = 156 group 2) and 119 in the control group. Because of minimal Facebook activity, the two intervention groups 1 and 2 were combined. There were no differences in breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. (NS). Women in the intervention arm reported significantly higher confidence with breastfeeding and perceived social support to the control group (p < .05). Greater than 80% registered the app and those that engaged with the app had higher scores with time. Mothers appreciated receiving text messages and videos with reliable information. No harm was reported in this study. CONCLUSION: MMM increased confidence with breastfeeding and with gathering social supports. Exclusively BF was high in all participants. Mothers perceived it as useful and dependable especially the texting.

All Hands on Deck: Addressing Adolescent Depression in Pediatric Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines prevalence rates of elevated depression symptoms utilizing the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9A), characterizes recommendations and interventions by primary care providers (PCPs) and behavioral health clinicians (BHCs) in response to elevated PHQ-9As, and identifies factors associated with improved PHQ-9A scores at follow-up pediatric primary care visits. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was taken. Visit data, demographics, and PHQ-9A scores for 2,107 adolescents aged 11-18 were extracted using clinical informatics between January 3, 2017 and August 31, 2018. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were conducted, followed by conventional content analysis of electronic medical records to examine qualitative results. Qualitative analyses were transformed into quantitative results and analyzed using point biserial correlations. RESULTS: Of the 2,107 adolescents, 277 (13%) had an elevated PHQ-9A. Content analysis resulted in 40 actions (17 PCP codes, 23 BHC codes) in response to an elevated PHQ-9A. Significant correlations were found between an improved PHQ-9A at a follow-up visit and the PCP referring to integrated behavioral health (r = .20, p < .01), and BHCs recommending and checking in at a follow-up visit (r = .20, p < .05), conducting a risk assessment (r = .15, p < .05), and providing psychoeducation about mood symptoms (r = .15, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Primary care is an ideal setting to address the public health crisis of untreated adolescent depression. Implications for screening processes, practice implications for PCPs and BHCs, future directions, and limitations are discussed.

Addressing Adolescent Depression in Primary Care: Building Capacity Through Psychologist and Pediatrician Partnership.

Early identification and treatment of depression during adolescence can contribute to healthier outcomes across the lifespan, yet adolescent depression has been underidentified and undertreated. The American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC) were created to enhance the identification and treatment of adolescent depression. Integrated psychologists in a pediatric primary care setting partnered with providers and clinic staff to implement an adolescent depression screening initiative and transform primary care practice around identification and management. From January 2017 through August 2018, 2107 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 were screened using the PHQ-9A. Eleven percent (n = 226) of adolescents had an elevated screen with a score of ≥ 10 and 7% (n = 151) screened positive for suicidal ideation. Identification of depressive symptoms led to increased integrated behavioral health services delivered by psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychology trainees. Psychologists integrated in primary care can support primary care practices to develop service delivery systems aligned with AAP's GLAD-PC and address the diverse implementation barriers associated with incorporating clinical practice guidelines in real-world settings. Universal screening for adolescent depression and response protocols were successfully implemented in a pediatric primary care clinic under the leadership of psychologists and pediatrician partners.

The Scope of Behavioral Health Integration in a Pediatric Primary Care Setting.

OBJECTIVE: The current study examines the scope of integrated behavioral health services provided by behavioral health clinicians in pediatric primary care. METHODS: A cross-sectional electronic health record review was conducted to characterize integrated behavioral health services including consultation types, recommendations, and medical diagnoses. Services were provided over a 6-year period in an urban, residency-training clinic serving a primarily publicly insured population. RESULTS: Of the 4,440 patients seen by behavioral health clinicians (BHCs), 2,829 (63.7%) were seen during well-child checks to address a wide array of presenting problems. The five consultation types "Healthy Steps (6%), pregnancy-related depression (17.7%), developmental (19.2%), mental health (53.2%), and psychopharmacology (5%)" were characterized by differences in demographics, presenting problems, recommendations, and medical diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric BHCs provide a wide range of services to pediatric populations in the context of integrated behavioral health programs. Implications for workforce capacity development, evaluation of outcomes and impact, and sustainability are discussed.

Identification and Management of Ankyloglossia and Its Effect on Breastfeeding in Infants: Clinical Report.

Ankyloglossia refers to a congenitally tight lingual frenulum that limits the motion of the tongue. Whether the release of a tight lingual frenulum in neonates improves breastfeeding is not clear. Because many of the symptoms of ankyloglossia overlap those of other breastfeeding difficulties, a team partnership is necessary.

Paid Family and Medical Leave: Policy Statement.

Paid family and medical leave (PFML) helps parents balance the competing obligations of work, personal illness, and family. PFML is needed when adding a new member of the family or when a family member or individual becomes acutely or chronically ill. The United States lacks universally available PFML, despite the benefits for child and family health and well-being. Universally available PFML is a key component of improving the health of children and families and is critically needed in the United States.

Which Types of Providers Have Firearm Discussions in a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic?

OBJECTIVE: Safe firearm storage decreases self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injury in youth. Medical providers are well-positioned to discuss safe firearm storage with families. The primary objective of this study was to determine which providers are most likely to discuss firearms with their patients. Our secondary objective was to determine whether providers were more likely to discuss firearms with patients at elevated suicide risk. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of primary care well child visits occurring January-December 2019 in a large, urban academic clinic. We documented provider-type and training level (exposure); any documentation of firearms in the chart (counseling, screening) was considered as having a firearm discussion (outcome). We also collected demographics, patient mental health history, PHQ-9 scores, and assessed suicide risk. RESULTS: Of the 743 charts reviewed, firearms were discussed in 9% (n=66). Medical students were most likely to discuss firearms (15%), attending physicians were least likely (1%, p < 0.001). Providers did not discuss firearms more frequently among youth at elevated suicide risk. CONCLUSION: Though providers do not frequently discuss and document firearm discussions overall, the higher rates among medical students is promising. Given the lethality of firearms in a suicide attempt, the lack of firearm safety discussions with those at elevated suicide risk was concerning. Further study should evaluate factors that facilitate discussions in this cohort and identify strategies to improve counseling among more senior providers. WHAT'S NEW: Pediatric providers have an opportunity to counsel families about the risk of firearm access. We found that trainees are most likely to counsel families about firearms, and that providers are not more likely to counsel youth at elevated suicide risk.

Lactation and neonatal nutrition: defining and refining the critical questions.

This paper resulted from a conference entitled "Lactation and Milk: Defining and refining the critical questions" held at the University of Colorado School of Medicine from January 18-20, 2012. The mission of the conference was to identify unresolved questions and set future goals for research into human milk composition, mammary development and lactation. We first outline the unanswered questions regarding the composition of human milk (Section I) and the mechanisms by which milk components affect neonatal development, growth and health and recommend models for future research. Emerging questions about how milk components affect cognitive development and behavioral phenotype of the offspring are presented in Section II. In Section III we outline the important unanswered questions about regulation of mammary gland development, the heritability of defects, the effects of maternal nutrition, disease, metabolic status, and therapeutic drugs upon the subsequent lactation. Questions surrounding breastfeeding practice are also highlighted. In Section IV we describe the specific nutritional challenges faced by three different populations, namely preterm infants, infants born to obese mothers who may or may not have gestational diabetes, and infants born to undernourished mothers. The recognition that multidisciplinary training is critical to advancing the field led us to formulate specific training recommendations in Section V. Our recommendations for research emphasis are summarized in Section VI. In sum, we present a roadmap for multidisciplinary research into all aspects of human lactation, milk and its role in infant nutrition for the next decade and beyond.

Addressing Adolescent Suicidality in Pediatric Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines prevalence rates of reported suicidal ideation (SI) in 2107 adolescents, characterizes recommendations and interventions given by primary care providers (PCPs) and behavioral health clinicians (BHCs) in response to SI on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-Item Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9A) for 140 adolescents, and identifies factors associated with a decrease in the frequency of SI at follow-up visits for 85 adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective mixed-method approach was taken. Clinical informatics was used to extract visit data, demographics, and PHQ-9A scores for all visits between January 3, 2017, and August 31, 2018. Conventional content analysis of electronic medical records was used to examine qualitative results, and qualitative codes were then analyzed using point-biserial correlations. The setting includes a fully integrated behavioral health team within the primary care clinic. RESULTS: Of the 2107 adolescents, 140 (7%) endorsed SI within the past 2 weeks. Content analysis yielded 40 actions (17 PCP codes and 23 BHC codes) used in response to SI. Significant correlations were found between decreased SI frequency and the PCP referring to integrated behavioral health ( r = 0.24) and family navigators ( r = 0.26) and BHCs conducting a risk assessment ( r = 0.24), completing a safety plan ( r = 0.21), involving caregivers ( r = 0.29), sending the adolescent to the emergency department ( r = 0.28), and referring to family navigators ( r = 0.21; all p values < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study support screening for SI and highlight specific multidisciplinary and family-centered interventions and recommendations to address adolescent endorsement of SI in pediatric primary care settings.

The Term Newborn: Prenatal Substance Exposure.

Care for pregnant patients with substance use disorder must be provided in a nonjudgmental manner with recognition of addiction as a chronic medical illness in order to establish a therapeutic relationship and improve outcomes. All pregnant patients should be screened for substance use during prenatal care. Screening can be accomplished through several validated screening tools. Patients who screen positive need to be evaluated and referred for treatment as appropriate. This article reviews specific adverse perinatal outcomes associated with the use of a variety of substances and provides guidance on exposure with continued breastfeeding.

"First Five" Quality Improvement Program Increases Adherence and Continuity with Well-child Care.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures recommends routine well-child care as optimal care for children. This quality improvement project aimed to increase adherence to the "First Five" visits after newborn follow-up at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months-by 25% (50% or higher) and continuity with providers by 20% (64% or higher) between 2013 and 2016. METHODS: Retrospective data collection identified a quality gap, in which only 25% had the required well-child visits by the first year. We interviewed parents/caregivers of 12- to 15-month-old children for their perspectives on access to care, scheduling, and the medical home concept. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles targeted modification of electronic medical record templates, scheduling, staff and parental education, standardization of work processes, and birth to 1-year age-specific incentives. We then piloted interventions in one of our clinic's pod/subgroup. Process and outcome measures were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a run chart, and a 2-sample % Defective Test. RESULTS: Parent/caregiver interviews revealed that only 6% knew what a medical home was, and only 40% "almost always saw the same provider for care." At baseline in 2012, we documented completion of all 5 visits in only 25% of the children; <10% of those children had consecutive visits with the same provider. After multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles and pilot, our "First Five" well-child care adherence rose to 78%, and continuity increased to 74% in 2018 (P < 0.001 for adherence, P < 0.001 for continuity). CONCLUSION: A multifaceted, evidence-based approach improved both well-child care adherence and provider continuity.

Systematic review of cost-effectiveness analysis of behavior change communication apps: Assessment of key methods.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence backing the effectiveness of mobile health technology is growing, and behavior change communication applications (apps) are fast becoming a useful platform for behavioral health programs. However, data to support the cost-effectiveness of these interventions are limited. Suggestions for overcoming the low output of economic data include addressing the methodological challenges for conducting cost-effectiveness analysis of behavior change app programs. This study is a systematic review of cost-effectiveness analyses of behavior change communication apps and a documentation of the reported challenges for investigating their cost-effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four academic databases: Medline (Ovid), CINAHL, EMBASE and Google Scholar, were searched. Eligibility criteria included original articles that use a cost-effectiveness evaluation method, published between 2008 and 2018, and in the English language. RESULTS: Out of the 60 potentially eligible studies, 6 used cost-effectiveness analysis method and met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: The evidence to support the cost-effectiveness of behavior change communication apps is insufficient, with all studies reporting significant study challenges for estimating program costs and outcomes. The main challenges included limited or lack of cost data, inappropriate cost measures, difficulty with identifying and quantifying app effectiveness, representing app effects as Quality-adjusted Life Years, and aggregating cost and effects into a single quantitative measure like Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio. These challenges highlight the need for comprehensive economic evaluation methods that balance app data quality issues with practical concerns. This would likely improve the usefulness of cost-effectiveness data for decisions on adoption, implementation, scalability, sustainability, and the benefits of broader healthcare investments.

Detection of Cannabinoids by LC-MS-MS and ELISA in Breast Milk.

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug of abuse in pregnancy and after delivery. However, little is known regarding the disposition of cannabinoids in breast milk, although delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component, is highly lipophilic. Quantification of cannabinoids in breastmilk is essential for clinical monitoring and research studies and breastmilk banks mainly rely on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in terms of screening for cannabinoids. To support clinical studies on disposition of cannabinoids in breastmilk, we validated a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) assay for the simultaneous quantification of 12 cannabinoids and their metabolites in human breast milk. Said assay was based upon a simple one-step protein precipitation, online column extraction and detection in the positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. After successful validation, the assay was used to analyze 30 samples from a clinical research study that had tested negative using an ELISA kit that is commonly used by breastmilk banks. In human breast milk, depending on the analyte, the lower limits of quantification of the LC-MS-MS assay ranged from 0.39 to 7.81 ng/mL. Acceptance criteria for intra- and inter-batch accuracy (85-115%) and imprecision (<15%) were met for all compounds. Mean extraction efficiencies were above 60% for all analytes. Mean matrix effect ranged from -12.5% to 44.5% except of THC-glucuronide for which significant matrix effects were noted. No carry-over was detected. Although cannabinoid-negative based on the ELISA, all 30 samples tested positive for THC using LC-MS-MS (0.8-130 ng/mL) and several also for 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG). We validated a sensitive and specific assay for the quantification of 12 cannabinoids in human breastmilk that outperformed an ELISA commonly used by breastmilk banks.

Bikes for Life: Measuring the effects of a bicycle distribution program on 6 to 12-year-old children's BMI and health behaviors.

Treating pediatric obesity is challenging. The objective was to evaluate effect of receiving a bicycle on (a) physical activity, (b) sedentary activity, (c) Body Mass Index (BMI), and (d) eating habits. A stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial of 6- to 12-year-old patients with overweight/obesity was conducted April 2012-2018. Participants were randomized to wait 0, 2, 4, or 6 months for a bicycle. Outcomes on activity, BMI and eating were collected at 3, 6, 9- and 12-months after children received a bicycle. A total of 525 participants with 387 (74%) completed 3-month follow-up questionnaire, and 346 (66%) completed 12-month follow-up visit. Participants were mostly Latino/a (71%) and low income (58%), and 31% had never ridden a bicycle. Median baseline BMI was 98th percentile. At 3 months, 62% reported bicycle use last week, on average 3.6 days. Time spent on sedentary activities decreased by 48 min/day (p = 0.04), and time spent playing sports increased by 1.7 h/week (p < 0.01). No reduction in BMI was seen. Consumption of sugary drinks decreased (by 0.59 servings/week, p < 0.01), and consumption of vegetables increased (0.71 servings/week, p = 0.04). At 12 months, sedentary time, sugary drink and vegetable consumption remained significantly more favorable than at enrollment (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p = 0.04 respectively), but not significantly different (p = 0.47 for sedentary, p = 0.73 for sugary drink) and significantly less favorable (p < 0.01 for vegetables) than at the time of intervention. Participants reported riding bicycle, improved activity and dietary habits, though reversion towards baseline behavior was seen by one year and no change in BMI from enrollment.

Research opportunities with curanderos to address childhood overweight in Latino families.

Curanderos are consulted as an adjunct or alternative to biomedical health care in the greater southwest, although the extent of their involvement in obesity prevention and treatment is poorly understood. Seven curanderos participated in audiotaped interviews about their work with families and beliefs about childhood feeding and overweight. Themes reflected curanderos' beliefs about their practice and childhood obesity. Curanderos approach their work as a calling, emphasizing elements from nature in etiology and cure. From the curandero's standpoint, essential elements of obesity management must acknowledge the socially marginalized experiences of Latinos. We encountered working with curanderos as problematic, and this likely reflected our differing personal characteristics and a tension between our healing professions. Curanderos could serve as collaborators in childhood obesity interventions if we craft health messages and delivery modes that resonate with Latino families and address ethical and communication issues on the research team.

A Structured Neonatal Parenting Elective: An Approach for Parenting Leave During Residency.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy is common during residency, yet the duration of allowed paid leave is inadequate and utilizing unpaid family medical leave act (FMLA) time has financial and professional consequences. We evaluated the effectiveness of a novel parenting elective, consistent with educational goals for pediatric residents, on resident parents' financial, academic, and family outcomes. METHODS: In 2010, a 2-4 week structured at-home elective of outpatient neonatal care with full pay was implemented. Data were collected from all new parents in a large academic pediatric residency from 2002 to 2018, including duration of leave, on-time graduation, choice to pursue postresidency training, and unpaid FMLA leave. Data were compared from before/after implementation and by parent type (mothers or resident partners of mothers). RESULTS: Twenty-two pregnancies occurred prior to implementation and 42 afterward. In mothers, leave duration was similar (7.9 ± 3.5 weeks before, 8.0 ± 0.3 after, P = .50) but the minimum time increased from 2 to 6 weeks and those taking ≥7 weeks increased (54% vs 96%, P = .002). Mothers using unpaid FMLA time decreased (38% vs 7%, P = .04) although on-time graduation (69% vs 93%, P = .13) and postresidency training rates were similar. Among partners, leave duration increased (0.8 ± 0.4 weeks vs 4.0 ± 1.7, P < .001) and 79% took ≥4 weeks, compared to 0% pre-elective (P < .001). In partners, postresidency training, FMLA, or on-time graduation rates did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Parenting a neonate provides learning opportunities for pediatric residents that can be encompassed in an elective consistent with training requirements. This elective improved outcomes for mothers and partners and is generalizable to any training program.