Development of an Evaluation Tool for Monitoring the Delivery of Psychosocial Care in Pediatric Oncology Settings

Abstract

In January of 2019, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital (UI SFCH) formalized their Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology Program by utilizing 15 evidence-based Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and Families as a foundation for program development. The psychosocial oncology clinical team members identified ongoing gaps in care and a need to improve progress toward achieving these standards. Reviewing and analyzing the Pediatric Psychosocial Standard of Care Institutional Assessment Tool further highlighted the need for program development but also demonstrated the need to design institutionally specific objective measures to monitor program improvements over time. The current project focused on the creation of a program evaluation system with objective measures specific to the UI SFCH practice setting. Barriers such as staffing and cost were identified and addressed. Additionally, a REDCap® database using a structured chart review as its foundation was initiated, which permitted the comprehensive evaluation of the standards of care at UI SFCH. The Matrix and Guidelines included in the Pediatric Psychosocial Standard of Care Institutional Assessment Tool comprised the framework to develop institution specific objective measurements for each standard of care. The objective measures of interest were social work assessments and provider biopsychosocial assessments. Data were exported and uploaded to a statistical program for data analysis. The statistical significance of percentage changes was evaluated with a one-tailed t-test; p values < 0.05 were considered significant. The development of this REDCap® database project allowed for the evaluation of the program’s current efficiency in implementing the PSCPCC standards of care. Using the database in the future will allow psychosocial oncology team members to easily identify other areas for improvement and to ensure that all 15 standards of psychosocial care are being comprehensively addressed in the care of pediatric oncology patients and interactions with their families.