Health Services
Providing quality, efficient, and accessible healthcare is an ongoing challenge in the United States. PolicyLab’s research examines local, state, and federal health systems to inform policy and practice changes aimed at improving the health and well-being of the nation’s children.
Shared Decision-Making and Health Care Expenditures Among Children With Special Health Care Needs
Children with special heath care needs (CSHCN) account for more than 1/3 of pediatric health care costs. Little is known regarding the impact of shared decision-making (SDM) over time on child health care expenditures and utilization. This study aimed to examine the impact of shared decision-making on health care costs and utilization among U.S. CSHCN.
The GIVE Teens Vaccines Study
The effective delivery of preventive health care depends upon clinician recommendation and family acceptance. Effectively delivering adolescent vaccines, particularly the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, has been challenging. Electronic medical record (EMR)-based decision support presents an opportunity to overcome barriers to vaccine receipt. This study aimed to test the benefit of clinician-directed versus family-directed decision support or both on adolescent vaccination, especially receipt of the HPV vaccine among girls.
Development of an Instrument to Measure Parent’s Preferences and Goals for ADHD Treatment
The Institute of Medicine prioritized research to foster shared decision making in chronic illness. In ADHD, new national guidelines emphasize targeting treatment toward families' preferences and goals, a component of shared decision making, yet no tools exist to help in this process. This study aims to develop and validate an instrument to measure parents' ADHD treatment preferences and goals.
Developing a Shared Decision Making Portal for Pediatric Chronic Illness
Research has shown that families of US children with asthma who are able to actively communicate with clinicians from home are far more likely to report high levels of shared decision making (SDM) and SDM is associated with improved health and lower health care costs. This study aims to develop a shared decision making portal using electronic health records to engage families of varied backgrounds and clinicians in the care of pediatric asthma.
Transgender Health in Medical Education
The transgender community stands to gain a great deal from productive, meaningful encounters with the health care system and specifically, with sensitive providers. Studies have shown that medical students feel undertrained in LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex) health, and would see the value in increased sexual and gender health education. This study is among the first to evaluate medical student knowledge, skills, and attitudes about transgender health and measure the effect of an educational intervention.
