227 - Content & Complexity of New Patient Intake Questionnaires for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Clinics in Project STANDARD (Structured Approach to Neurodevelopmental Care & Clinical Research Data)

Publication Number: 4224.227

Julia Berg, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Ramkumar Aishworiya, National University Hospital, Singapore, N/A, Singapore; Yair Bannett, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States; William Barbaresi, Harvard Medical School; Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Nathan Blum, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Narberth, PA, United States; Shang Chee Chong, National University Hospital Singapore, Singapore, N/A, Singapore; Justice Clark, Boston Children's Hospital, Newton, MA, United States; Jeffery Epstein, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Johannes Fellinger, Klinisches Forschungsinstitut für Entwicklungsmedizin, Johannes Kepler Universität, Linz, Oberosterreich, Austria; Tanya Froehlich, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Johannes Hofer, Institute of Neurology of Senses and Language, Hospital of St. John of God, Linz, Oberosterreich, Austria; Daniel Holzinger, Clinical Research Institute for Developmental Medicine, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Oberosterreich, Austria; Patty Huang, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; YingQi Kang, National University Hospital Singapore, Singapore, N/A, Singapore; Marie A. Reilly, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Ann Reynolds, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States; Gehan Roberts, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Georgios Sideridis, Boston Children's Hospital, Weymouth, MA, United States; Deanna Swain, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States; Sarah Weas, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Carol Weitzman, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States

Background: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics clinics often require caregivers to complete intake questionnaires to access initial clinical services. However, complexity and variability of questionnaires may adversely impact the patient/family experience. Project STANDARD is an international initiative to develop an electronic medical record documentation system to capture structured data from clinical visits.

Objective: To inform pre-visit data collection for the Project STANDARD initiative, we describe the content and complexity of intake questionnaires from Project STANDARD sites.

Design/Methods: Intake questionnaires from all sites were requested and analyzed for content. Common elements were defined as those questions included on >60% of intake questionnaires. Complexity was determined based on the number of questions, question response choice, readability, additional documentation requirements, and information requested from other reporters.

Results: Seven of 8 Project STANDARD sites provided 11 intake questionnaires for review; one site does not require an intake questionnaire. Common elements included: languages spoken in the home/preferred guardian language, patient date of birth (each asked on 91% questionnaires); guardian primary concerns, legal guardian occupation(s), patient medical history, services/interventions the patient receives (82%); other concerns, referring provider, information about prenatal course, information about birth, developmental milestones, whether the child attends daycare/preschool/school (73%); people living at home, and completion of hearing/vision screening (63%) (see Table 1). The average number of questions was 51.6 and 63% were closed-ended (see Figure 1). Questionnaires were written at a 6-7th grade reading level (Flesch-Kincaid Grade level median: 6.6). Additional documentation was requested by 50% of sites. Two sites requested that caregivers complete additional screeners. Information was requested from other reporters by 2 sites.

Conclusion(s): Project STANDARD site intake questionnaires contained 14 common elements but were complex and contained many open-ended questions. Standardization of pre-visit data collection with these common elements and an increased percentage of closed-ended questions may reduce complexity, improve processes for families, and facilitate incorporation of intake information into clinician documentation.

Common Intake Questionnaire Elements
Fourteen common elements identified on caregiver intake questionnaires from Project STANDARD collaboration sites.

Comparison of Questions on Intake Questionnaires
Comparison of question type and number on intake questionnaires for caregivers at Project STANDARD collaboration sites. Abbreviations: BCH, Boston Children's Hospital; ISSN, Institute of Neurology of Senses and Language; CHCO, Children's Hospital Colorado; NUH, National University Hospital Singapore; CHOP, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; RCH, The Royal Children's Hospital.