Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic

<p align="left"><strong>Objectives</strong>: To assess patient and family satisfaction with evaluation received through a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic (APC) staffed by a paediatric gastroenterologist and a paediatric psychologist as compared to a tra...

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Main Authors: Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Craig A. Friesen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2010-08-01
Series:International Journal of Integrated Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijic.org/articles/551
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author Jennifer Verrill Schurman
Craig A. Friesen
author_facet Jennifer Verrill Schurman
Craig A. Friesen
author_sort Jennifer Verrill Schurman
collection DOAJ
description <p align="left"><strong>Objectives</strong>: To assess patient and family satisfaction with evaluation received through a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic (APC) staffed by a paediatric gastroenterologist and a paediatric psychologist as compared to a traditional gastroenterology clinic (GI) staffed by a paediatric gastroenterologist only. <p align="justify"><strong>Methods</strong>: Two hundred and ninety-eight families (145 APC, 153 GI) with a child or adolescent aged 8-17 years seen for initial evaluation of a chronic abdominal pain completed an anonymous survey to assess understanding of the treatment recommendations made, intent to follow through with various treatment recommendations, and the overall level of satisfaction with the evaluation service provided. Family perceptions of strengths and challenges of the APC evaluation process also were explored. <p align="justify"><strong>Results</strong>: APC families reported being prescribed adjunctive mental health and other therapies at significantly higher rates than GI families, while the rates of medication were comparable. APC families also reported significantly greater receptivity to beginning the treatments prescribed and higher levels of overall satisfaction with the evaluation process. The contribution of integrated medical and psychological perspectives frequently was identified as a strength of the APC evaluation process. Challenges identified for the APC evaluation were few and focused on issues related to paperwork and scheduling issues. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: Integrative care approaches to the evaluation of paediatric abdominal pain appear well accepted by families, yielding high levels of satisfaction, and enhance receptivity to treatment recommendations. Integrative care starting at the time of first evaluation may be particularly well-tailored to enhance outcomes, reduce health care utilization, and yield financial savings within this population.
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spelling doaj.art-5da3e78f71474a42baeeaee2b608dcc92022-12-22T03:44:08ZengUbiquity PressInternational Journal of Integrated Care1568-41562010-08-0110310.5334/ijic.551526Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain ClinicJennifer Verrill SchurmanCraig A. Friesen<p align="left"><strong>Objectives</strong>: To assess patient and family satisfaction with evaluation received through a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic (APC) staffed by a paediatric gastroenterologist and a paediatric psychologist as compared to a traditional gastroenterology clinic (GI) staffed by a paediatric gastroenterologist only. <p align="justify"><strong>Methods</strong>: Two hundred and ninety-eight families (145 APC, 153 GI) with a child or adolescent aged 8-17 years seen for initial evaluation of a chronic abdominal pain completed an anonymous survey to assess understanding of the treatment recommendations made, intent to follow through with various treatment recommendations, and the overall level of satisfaction with the evaluation service provided. Family perceptions of strengths and challenges of the APC evaluation process also were explored. <p align="justify"><strong>Results</strong>: APC families reported being prescribed adjunctive mental health and other therapies at significantly higher rates than GI families, while the rates of medication were comparable. APC families also reported significantly greater receptivity to beginning the treatments prescribed and higher levels of overall satisfaction with the evaluation process. The contribution of integrated medical and psychological perspectives frequently was identified as a strength of the APC evaluation process. Challenges identified for the APC evaluation were few and focused on issues related to paperwork and scheduling issues. <strong>Conclusions</strong>: Integrative care approaches to the evaluation of paediatric abdominal pain appear well accepted by families, yielding high levels of satisfaction, and enhance receptivity to treatment recommendations. Integrative care starting at the time of first evaluation may be particularly well-tailored to enhance outcomes, reduce health care utilization, and yield financial savings within this population.http://www.ijic.org/articles/551functional gastrointestinal disordersabdominal painpaediatricspracticeparents
spellingShingle Jennifer Verrill Schurman
Craig A. Friesen
Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic
International Journal of Integrated Care
functional gastrointestinal disorders
abdominal pain
paediatrics
practice
parents
title Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic
title_full Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic
title_fullStr Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic
title_full_unstemmed Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic
title_short Integrative treatment approaches: family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric Abdominal Pain Clinic
title_sort integrative treatment approaches family satisfaction with a multidisciplinary paediatric abdominal pain clinic
topic functional gastrointestinal disorders
abdominal pain
paediatrics
practice
parents
url http://www.ijic.org/articles/551
work_keys_str_mv AT jenniferverrillschurman integrativetreatmentapproachesfamilysatisfactionwithamultidisciplinarypaediatricabdominalpainclinic
AT craigafriesen integrativetreatmentapproachesfamilysatisfactionwithamultidisciplinarypaediatricabdominalpainclinic