PROJECT CARING: AN INTERVENTION EVALUATION STUDY OF CARE COORDINATION FOR CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
Contributors: University of Pittsburgh.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 224
Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The study evaluated the effect of an intervention, care coordination, with 67 children who were chronically-ill and their families. The participants, children from the ages of 1 through 19 years of age and with a variety of chronic conditions, received care coordination services through Project Caring. Project Caring is part of the Caring Program for Children, a Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield program that offers health care benefits to children from low-income families who do not qualify for government assistance.

Three research questions were developed; data were gathered through a prevalence study and a one-group posttest study design. The first research question was: What is the prevalence of chronic conditions among a random sample of children enrolled in the Caring Program for Children. The second research question was three-fold and included the following questions: (1) What services are needed by children with chronic conditions who are enrolled in Project Caring, (2) What are the outcomes, or status, of referrals recommended by the care coordinator, and (3) What factors contribute to referrals not being completed. The third research question was two-fold: (1) How do parents' perceive accessibility to and satisfaction with health care services that children with chronic conditions are referred to, and (2) What are parents' opinions of care coordination as provided through Project Caring?.

The results of the prevalence survey include both physical and mental health chronic conditions. Of the 67 children enrolled in Project Caring for care coordination services, 22% had a mental health condition in addition to a physical chronic condition.

All 67 of the children enrolled in Project Caring were receiving care through a primary care physician; a majority of the children were also receiving care from a medical specialist. The care coordinator identified the need for 363 referrals among the 67 children, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach in meeting the needs of children with chronic conditions and their families.

Based on the findings, a care coordination model was presented and discussed. In addition, public health policy implications were developed.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-09, Section: B, page: 4628.

Thesis (SC.D.HYG.)--UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, 1993.

School code: 0178.