A Patient-Centered Approach to Gathering Information on Social Determinants of Health from Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Preparation for Their Transition to Adult Care
Authors: Smith Katherine EC , Cox Jessica R , Haynes Rosalind L , Bohnker Nicole Ivette , Saving Kay L 
Published: November 2021

Background:

Transition from pediatric to adult care has been a recent focus of sickle cell programs across the country due to patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) to living longer. 1 Transition programs for other chronic conditions focus largely on patient knowledge of the disease, treatments, and appointment compliance but for patients with SCD, social determinants of health (SDOH) must also be considered when guiding patients toward adult care. 2 Historically, lack of acknowledgement of the importance of relationships and trust building when addressing SDOH has led to barriers in patient responsiveness. 3 To facilitate this aspect of transition, our recently hired Community Health Worker (CHW) developed a Community Health Transitional Questionnaire (CHTQ) and conducted a Quality Improvement (QI) project to address SDOH in a patient-centered manner during transition to adult care visits at the clinic.

Aims: Refine the CHTQ by gathering the "voice of the customer" to provide a more patient-centered approach to transition to adult care for patients with SCD. Complete the CHTQ with 70% of transition-aged (12-25 years) patients by 7/1/21.

Methods:

The CHTQ consists of 32 questions about SDOH in 8 categories (Food, Housing, Money/Finances, Transportation, Education/Work, Family and Other Support, Stress Prior to/After COVID, and Sleep). Thirty pediatric sickle cell patients were identified as being within the established transitional age group. A series of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were used to refine the CHTQ. Through patient/caregiver feedback, small increments of change were used to establish a CHTQ that would improve patient care and be accepted by the patients/caregivers.

PDSA #1: During regularly scheduled appointments, two patients and their caregivers met with the CHW who described the purpose of the CHTQ and then asked the patient to privately complete the CHTQ.

PDSA #2: Because of feedback received from PDSA #1, the CHW allowed the next two patients to have caregivers present while answering the CHTQ, but explained that ideally the patient should be able to answer the CHTQ without input from their caregiver before transition to an adult environment.

PDSA #3: Because of the feedback received from PDSA #2, the CHW accompanied the clinic RN to the exam room and worked the CHTQ into the nursing check-in questions in an informal manner making the questions seem more routine.

Results:

After 3 PDSA cycles, 17 additional patients/caregivers completed the CHTQ without issues or concerns. A total of 22/30 (73%) CHTQs met the goal of completion by 7/1/21. One additional CHTQ has been completed since.

Using the information from the CHTQ, the team has been able to better address individualized SDOH for each patient. For example, one area of concern identified was transportation with 9/23 (39%) patients expressing concerns getting to & from appointments and/or school/work. Transportation needs were then discussed with the clinic social worker who is now working with those patients, giving them tools to arrange transportation.

Conclusion

For SCD patients, it appears imperative that a relationship be established prior to inquires about SDOH. Using an informal patient-centered approach with the CHTQ was more likely to gain patient trust and allowed the CHW to obtain information needed to assist the patient with SDOH issues. Once SDOH issues were identified through the CHTQ, the CHW was able to find patient-driven, individualized resources addressing those concerns.

References DeBaun, M.R. & Telfair, J. (2012). Transition and Sickle Cell Disease. PEDIATRICS, 130(5), 926-935

https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-3049 Andermann, A. (2016). Taking action on the social determinants of health in clinical practice: a framework for health professionals. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 188(17-18), E474-E483.

https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.160177 Cheney, C., Pecci, A., & Porter, S (2020, May). Social Determinants of Health: Lead or Partner. HealthLeaders.

https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/clinical-care/social-determinants-health-lead-or-partner-0

Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.