Enhancing Pediatric Long COVID Care Through Telementoring: Insights From an ECHO Program.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Telemedicine and health education

Background:

• Long COVID significantly impacts children, but knowledge gaps and limited specialized care access impede effective management.
• Fewer than 20 pediatric long COVID clinics exist in the US, creating access barriers for affected families.
• There is a need to enhance healthcare professional education for pediatric long COVID.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a pediatric long COVID ECHO program in improving healthcare provider knowledge and confidence.
• To disseminate evidence-based practices for diagnosing, treating, and managing pediatric long COVID.
• To empower primary care and community providers to manage pediatric long COVID cases.

Main Methods:

• A pediatric long COVID ECHO program utilized weekly tele-education sessions.
• The program engaged 94 participants from the US and Canada.
• Pre- and post-surveys assessed changes in participant knowledge, confidence, competence, and self-efficacy.

Main Results:

• Participants reported statistically significant improvements in knowledge, confidence, competence, and self-efficacy (P < 0.001).
• The ECHO model effectively reached healthcare professionals through word of mouth and professional listservs.
• The program demonstrated a positive impact on participants' ability to manage pediatric long COVID.

Conclusions:

• The pediatric long COVID ECHO program is a valuable initiative for improving care delivery.
• This program facilitates timely interventions for children with long COVID.
• Empowering community providers through education is crucial for addressing the pediatric long COVID challenge.