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Systematic psychosocial screening in a paediatric cardiology clinic: clinical utility of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist 17

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2015

Kari L. Struemph ,
Lydia R. Barhight ,
Deepika Thacker  and
Erica Sood
Kari L. Struemph
Affiliation:
Division of Behavioral Health, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America
Lydia R. Barhight
Affiliation:
Division of Behavioral Health, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America
Deepika Thacker
Affiliation:
Nemours Cardiac Center, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Erica Sood*
Affiliation:
Division of Behavioral Health, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America Nemours Cardiac Center, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: E. Sood, PhD, Nemours Cardiac Center, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, United States of America. Tel: 302 651 6304; Fax: 302 651 5345; E-mail: erica.sood@nemours.org
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Abstract

Objective

To examine the clinical utility of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist 17 for identifying psychosocial concerns and improving access to psychology services within a paediatric cardiology clinic.

Method

Parents of 561 children (aged 4–17 years) presenting for follow-up of CHD, acquired heart disease, or arrhythmia completed the Pediatric Symptom Checklist 17 as part of routine care; three items assessing parental (1) concern for learning/development, (2) questions about adjustment to cardiac diagnosis, and (3) interest in discussing concerns with a behavioural healthcare specialist were added to the questionnaire. A psychologist contacted the parents by phone if they indicated interest in speaking with a behavioural healthcare specialist.

Results

Percentages of children scoring above clinical cut-offs for externalising (10.5%), attention (8.7%), and total (9.3%) problems were similar to a “normative” primary-care sample, whereas fewer children in this study scored above the cut-off for internalising problems (7.8%; p<0.01). Sociodemographic, but not clinical, characteristics were associated with Pediatric Symptom Checklist 17 scores. 17% of the parents endorsed concerns about learning/development, and 20% endorsed questions about adjustment to diagnosis. History of cardiac surgery was associated with increased concern about learning/development (p<0.01). Only 37% of the parents expressing psychosocial concerns reported interest in speaking with a psychologist.

Conclusions

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist 17 may not be sensitive to specific difficulties experienced by this patient population. A questionnaire with greater focus on learning/development and adjustment to diagnosis may yield improved utility. Psychology integration in clinics serving high-risk cardiac patients may decrease barriers to behavioural healthcare services.

Keywords

CHDpsychosocial screeningneurodevelopmentpsychology
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 26 , Issue 6 , August 2016 , pp. 1130 - 1136
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2015 

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