Pilot implementation of an electronic patient-reported outcome measure for planning and monitoring participation-focused care in early intervention

BACKGROUND: Family-centered care is a valued approach to improving child and family outcomes in early intervention (EI), yet there is need to implement interventions that support information exchange for shared decision-making when planning and monitoring EI care. This study aims at estimating the feasibility, acceptability, and value of implementing the Young Children’s Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM), a valid electronic patient-reported outcome (e-PRO) that is designed to support family engagement when planning care and monitoring outcomes of care. METHODS: Data were gathered from caregivers (N = 139) that were enrolled in a Phase 1 trial of the YC-PEM e-PRO as implemented within 1 month of their child’s next EI evaluation of progress. YC-PEM e-PRO feasibility was estimated according to enrollment and completion rates, and mean completion time. Chi-square tests were used to examine parent perceptions of YC-PEM e-PRO acceptability by caregiver education and family income. Caregiver feedback via open-ended responses were content coded to inform intervention and protocol optimizations. YC-PEM e-PRO value was estimated via composite and item-level scores to capture the extent of participation difficulty in home and community activities, and common areas of need regarding caregivers desired change in their child’s participation. RESULTS: Feasibility of implementing the YC-PEM e-PRO in routine EI care was mixed, as evidenced by low enrollment rates (21.0–29.2%), a high completion rate (85.3%), and limited missing data (80.6% of completed cases contained no missing data). More than half of the participants reported that the completion of the YC-PEM e-PRO was at least somewhat helpful, regardless of family income or caregiver education, providing support for its acceptability. As for its value, the YC-PEM e-PRO results were viewed by 64% of caregivers, whose desire for change most often pertained to the child’s participation in non-discretionary activities at home and structured activities in the community. CONCLUSIONS: Results may support the implementation of YC-PEM e-PRO as a feasible, acceptable, and valued option for engaging families in planning the child’s EI care. Results also inform select intervention and protocol optimizations prior to undertaking a multi-site pragmatic trial of its effectiveness on family engagement and shared decision-making within an EI clinical workflow. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial number: NCT03904797. Trial registered at Clinicaltrials.gov. Registered 22 March 2019. Retrospectively registered.