In-person versus electronic screening for social risks among carers of pediatric inpatients: A mixed methods randomized trial
Publication Name
European Journal of Pediatrics
Abstract
We aimed to compare disclosure of social risks according to self-report on an iPad versus face-to-face questions from a health professional and to explore carers’ experiences of screening. This two-arm, parallel group, randomized trial was conducted from January 19, 2021, to December 17, 2021, in a public hospital pediatric ward serving a disadvantaged area of an Australian capital city. Carers of children aged ≤ 5 years admitted to the Children’s Ward were eligible. The primary outcome was disclosure of social risks. The screener included nine items on food security, household utilities, transport, employment, personal and neighborhood safety, social support, housing and homelessness. Disclosure of social risks was similar between the self-completion (n = 193) and assisted-completion (n = 193) groups for all 9 items, ranging 4.1% higher for worrying about money for food (95% CI − 11.4, 3.1%) among the assisted-completion group, to 5.7% (−1.6, 13.0%) higher for unemployment among the self-completion group. In qualitative interviews, participants were positive about screening for social risks in the hospital ward setting and the majority indicated a preference for self-completion. Conclusion: Differences in the disclosure of social risks according to self- versus assisted-completion were small, suggesting that either method could be used. Most carers expressed a preference for self- completion, which is therefore recommended as the ideal mode for such data collection for Australian pediatric inpatient settings. Trial registration: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (www.anzctry.org.au; #ACTRN12620001326987; date of registration 8 December 2020). (Table presented.).
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