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

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the NICU staff that participated in our focus groups and the families that are cared for at the BMC and UMass NICUs. We acknowledge Alyssa Fliter, Mikayla Gordon Wexler, Archana Kalyanasundaram, Jordi Negron, Stephanie Philip, Stephen Rogers, Lindsey Simoncini, and Heather White for their assistance with data collection. This work was supported by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD007793; PI Garg).

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Contributions

MGP contributed to the conceptualization and design, analysis, and drafted and edited the manuscript. AG, LMR, and SK contributed to the conceptualization and design and edited the manuscript. AB and ESF contributed to acquisition of data, data analysis, and edited the manuscript. M-LD contributed to the conceptualization and design, analysis, and edited the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margaret G. Parker.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Parker, M.G., Garg, A., Brochier, A. et al. Approaches to addressing social determinants of health in the NICU: a mixed methods study. J Perinatol 41, 1983–1991 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00867-w

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