Factors Contributing to Early Intervention Evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Early Intervention (EI) programs are crucial for child development but face underutilization.
• Limited research exists on factors influencing EI referral completion, especially in underserved populations.
• Standardized referral systems are key to understanding EI program engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify characteristics associated with the completion of EI evaluations in a minority, underserved population.
• To examine predictors of successful engagement with EI services.
• To inform strategies for improving EI program utilization.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzed data from 181 children referred to EI from an inner-city pediatric clinic (3/1/15-5/31/18).
• Completion of EI evaluation was the dependent variable, verified via medical records.
• Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors including age, chronic illness, and home language.

Main Results:

• 61.9% of referred children completed an EI evaluation; average age at referral was 18.9 months.
• Increased age at referral was associated with a lower likelihood of completion (aOR=0.95, P=.02).
• Children with chronic medical illnesses (aOR=2.41, P=.01) and from non-English speaking families (aOR=2.22, P=.03) had doubled odds of completion.

Conclusions:

• Child's age, medical history, and home language significantly impact EI evaluation completion.
• Findings enable clinicians to identify families at risk of not completing EI services.
• Targeted support can improve access to crucial early developmental services.