A report, 'Improving access to care and clinical outcome for pediatric behavioral problems: a randomized trial of a nurse-administered intervention in primary care,' is newly published data in Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 'To determine the effectiveness of an on-site modular intervention in improving access to mental health services and outcomes for children with behavioral problems in primary care relative to enhanced usual care. The study includes boys and girls from six primary care offices in metropolitan Pittsburgh, PA,' scientists writing in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics report (see also Behavioral Pediatrics).
'One hundred sixty-three clinically referred children who met a modest clinical cutoff (75th percentile) on the externalizing behavior scale of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 were randomized to a protocol for on-site, nurse-administered intervention or to enhanced usual care. Protocol for on-site, nurse-administered intervention applied treatment modules from an evidence-based specialty mental health treatment for children with disruptive behavior disorders that were adapted for delivery in the primary care setting; enhanced usual care offered diagnostic assessment, recommendations, and facilitated referral to a specialty mental health provider in the community. The main outcome measures such as standardized rating scales, including the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17, individualized target behavior ratings, treatment termination reports, and diagnostic interviews were collected. Protocol for on-site, nurse-administered intervention cases were significantly more likely to receive and complete mental health services, reported fewer service barriers and more consumer satisfaction, and showed greater, albeit modest, improvements on just a few clinical outcomes that included remission for categorical behavioral disorders at 1-year follow-up. Both conditions also reported several significant improvements on several clinical outcomes over time. A psychosocial intervention for behavior problems that was delivered by nurses in the primary care setting is feasible, improves access to mental health services, and has some clinical efficacy,' wrote D.J. Kolko and colleagues, University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute.
The researchers concluded: 'Options for enhancing clinical outcome include the use of multifaceted collaborative care interventions in the pediatric practice.'
Kolko and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (Improving access to care and clinical outcome for pediatric behavioral problems: a randomized trial of a nurse-administered intervention in primary care. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2010;31(5):393-404).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting D.J. Kolko, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA.
Keywords: City:Pittsburgh, State:PA, Country:United States, Behavioral Pediatrics, Clinical Trial Research, Mental Health, Therapy, Treatment.
This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.
