Approaches to addressing social determinants of health in the NICU: a mixed methods study

Objective Examine current approaches to addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) in the NICU and perceived appropriateness of a standardized screening and referral process. Study design We performed a mixed methods study in two Massachusetts safety-net NICUs. We examined rates that unmet basi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of perinatology 2021-08, Vol.41 (8), p.1983-1991
Main Authors: Parker, Margaret G., Garg, Arvin, Brochier, Annelise, Rhein, Lawrence M., Forbes, Emma S., Klawetter, Susanne, Drainoni, Mari-Lynn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
692/700/1720
692/700/228
Babies
Child & adolescent mental health
Employment
Families & family life
Focus groups
Food
Hispanic people
Hospitalization
Hospitals
Housing
Humans
Hunger
Infant, Newborn
Infants (Newborn)
Intensive care
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Management
Mass Screening
Massachusetts
Medical care
Medical examination
Medical records
Medical referrals
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Mental health
Methods
Mixed methods research
Mothers
Needs assessment
Neonatal care
Neonatal intensive care units
Newborn babies
Pediatric research
Pediatric Surgery
Pediatrics
Physicians
Premature birth
Referral and Consultation
Screening
Social aspects
Social Determinants of Health
Social work
Utilities
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Summary:Objective Examine current approaches to addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) in the NICU and perceived appropriateness of a standardized screening and referral process. Study design We performed a mixed methods study in two Massachusetts safety-net NICUs. We examined rates that unmet basic needs were assessed and identified among 601 families. We conducted focus groups with NICU staff to understand current methods to assess unmet basic needs and perceived appropriateness of a standardized SDOH screening and referral process. Result Except employment (89%), other unmet basic needs were infrequently assessed (housing 38%, food/hunger 7%, childcare 3%, transportation 3%, utilities 0.2%). Staff believed: (1) processes to assess SDOH were not standardized and inconsistently performed/documented; (2) addressing SDOH was important; and (3) using a standardized screening and referral process would be feasible. Conclusions Current NICU assessment of SDOH is limited and use of a standardized screening and referral process could be useful.
ISSN:0743-8346
1476-5543
DOI:10.1038/s41372-020-00867-w