Electronic screening for unmet social needs in a pediatric pulmonary clinic: Acceptability and associations with health outcomes

Abstract

Background: Children with unmet basic needs experience worse health than more advantaged counterparts. There has been limited research on screening for unmet basic needs in pediatric subspecialty care. Methods: Caregivers of established patients in pediatric asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) clinics were screened for unmet basic needs with an electronic survey, which asked about concerns and stress level (5-point Likert scale) related to food, housing, transportation, health insurance, and childcare, among others. Medical record review provided patient demographic characteristics and clinical data. A follow-up survey with the clinical providers assessed the acceptability of electronic screening for unmet needs. Results: The sample included 214 pediatric patients (N = 105 asthma, N = 109 CF) and their caregivers. Most patients with asthma (76%) were Black, 30% in households with