Facilitators and Barriers to Care for Patients with Disabilities in Primary Pediatrics

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Disability Studies
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Approximately 20% of US children have special health care needs, facing significant health outcome disparities.
• Access to and quality of primary pediatric care are critical for this population.
• Existing research often overlooks specific needs across diverse disability categories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review barriers and facilitators in primary pediatric care for children with special health care needs.
• To categorize these needs within four disability groups: physical, chronic conditions/mental health, sensory, and cognitive/neurodevelopmental.
• To inform strategies for improving care delivery and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of primary pediatric care for children with disabilities.
• Analysis of interventions and systemic issues impacting care.
• Categorization of children's needs based on disability type.

Main Results:

• Facilitators include valuing provider time, psychosocial support, interdisciplinary care coordination, and provider training.
• Barriers involve exclusion from research and educational gaps concerning ableism and hidden disabilities.
• Specific needs vary across physical, chronic, sensory, and cognitive/neurodevelopmental disability categories.

Conclusions:

• Implement identified facilitators broadly to enhance primary pediatric care.
• Address systemic barriers, including research exclusion and educational deficits, to better support children with disabilities.
• Further research is needed to refine interventions for diverse special health care needs.