Variability of Psychosocial Services Within the ImproveCareNow Learning Health System: Opportunities for Optimization

Area of Science:

• Pediatric gastroenterology
• Learning health systems
• Psychosocial care

Background:

• Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly impacts social development and quality of life.
• Psychosocial support is vital for youth with IBD but not universally accessible.
• ImproveCareNow (ICN) is a global network focused on enhancing pediatric IBD care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey ImproveCareNow (ICN) centers regarding psychosocial provider coverage and scope of practice.
• To identify variations in psychosocial support services for pediatric IBD patients within the ICN network.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to over 100 ImproveCareNow (ICN) centers.
• The survey targeted psychosocial providers to assess service availability and practice scope.
• Data analysis focused on identifying patterns and disparities in care.

Main Results:

• Significant variability exists in the type and availability of psychosocial services across ICN centers.
• The scope of practice for psychosocial providers differs considerably within the network.
• Not all centers offer comprehensive psychosocial support for youth with IBD.

Conclusions:

• Current psychosocial support for pediatric IBD within the ICN network is inconsistent.
• Further research and strategic planning are needed to ensure equitable access to psychosocial care.
• Recommendations are provided for centers aiming to expand their psychosocial support services.