Addressing Academic Concerns: A Survey of Primary Care Providers

Given new clinical recommendations, we sought to better understand the perspectives and practices of primary care providers (PCPs) around pediatric academic concerns. Practicing PCPs were recruited to complete an 8-item self-report survey; 163 PCPs were included in the final analysis. Results indicated that 84% of PCPs perceived their role in addressing patients' academic concerns as highly important; yet there was variability in the frequency with which PCPs reported engaging in activities around these educational needs. There was a significant positive relationship between perception of role importance and engagement in clinical supports. Some differences were present in responses across PCP specialty area. More information about practice differences between provider types, rural versus urban practices, and how perceptions/practices differ based on provider demographics are likely to be useful areas for future consideration. Our findings highlight the need to advance PCP instruction for practical implementation to increase rates of engagement in these activities.