Improving Provider Awareness and Comfort in Caring for PANDAS in the Outpatient Setting

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Infectious Disease Immunology
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Background:

• Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) presents with OCD and/or tic disorders post-Group A strep infection.
• PANDAS, a subtype of PANS, significantly impacts families emotionally, financially, and socially.
• A persistent lack of skilled PANDAS providers leads to diagnostic delays and treatment challenges for affected children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on healthcare providers' PANDAS diagnostic and treatment confidence.
• To assess improvements in provider awareness and comfort levels regarding PANDAS following a quality improvement initiative.

Main Methods:

• A pretest/posttest descriptive survey design was employed.
• Providers participated in an educational intervention utilizing a recorded PowerPoint based on PANS/PANDAS guidelines.

Main Results:

• Post-intervention, participating providers reported increased comfort in diagnosing and treating PANDAS.
• The educational initiative demonstrated a positive effect on provider confidence in managing PANDAS.

Conclusions:

• Limited access to knowledgeable providers is a major barrier for PANDAS patients and their families.
• Provider education is an effective strategy to enhance PANDAS diagnostic and treatment capabilities in primary care.
• Improving provider comfort can positively influence the quality of care for families affected by PANDAS.