Search

Retrospective chart review is an accessible form of research that is commonly used across medical fields but is underutilized in behavioral health. As a relatively newer area of research, the field of pediatric integrated primary care (IPC) would particularly benefit from guidelines for conducting a methodologically sound chart review study. Here, we use our experiences building a chart review procedure for a pediatric IPC research project to offer strategies for optimizing reliability (consistency), validity (accuracy), and efficiency. We aim to provide guidance for conducting a chart review study in the specific setting of pediatric IPC so that researchers can apply this methodology toward generating research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating behavioral health services within pediatric primary care may help address barriers to these services for youth, especially the underserved. Models of primary care behavioral health include coordinated, colocated, integrated, and collaborative care. This study began exploring the comparative utility of these models by investigating differences in the demographics and diagnoses of patients seen for a behavioral health warm handoff (integrated model) and a scheduled behavioral health visit (colocated model) across 3 pediatric primary care sites. The 3 sites differed in their rates of warm handoff usage, and there were differences in certain diagnoses given at warm handoffs versus scheduled visits. Depression diagnoses were more likely to be given in warm handoffs, and disruptive behavior, trauma/adjustment, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder–related diagnoses were more likely to be given in scheduled visits. These results have implications for the influence of office structure and standardized procedures on behavioral health models used in pediatric primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research done on the relationship between psychosocial factors and cardiovascular health in youth. It references the study "Cumulative Effect of Psychosocial Factors in Youth on Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study" by M. Elovainio and colleagues, published within the issue. Relevant findings of the study are presented and the meaning of the term psychosocial is examined.