Abstract
Objective
To determine whether systematic use of a validated social-emotional screening instrument
in a primary care setting is feasible and improves detection of social-emotional problems
among youth in foster care.
Methods
Before-and-after study design, following a practice intervention to screen all youth
in foster care for psychosocial problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
(SDQ), a validated instrument with 5 subdomains. After implementation of systematic
screening, youth aged 11 to 17 years and their foster parents completed the SDQ at
routine health maintenance visits. We assessed feasibility of screening by measuring
the completion rates of SDQ by youth and foster parents. We compared the detection
of psychosocial problems during a 2-year period before systematic screening to the
detection after implementation of systematic screening with the SDQ. We used chart
reviews to assess detection at baseline and after implementing systematic screening.
Results
Altogether, 92% of 212 youth with routine visits that occurred after initiation of
screening had a completed SDQ in the medical record, demonstrating high feasibility
of systematic screening. Detection of a potential mental health problem was higher
in the screening period than baseline period for the entire population (54% vs 27%,
P < .001). More than one-fourth of youth had 2 or more significant social-emotional
problem domains on the SDQ.
Conclusions
Systematic screening for potential social-emotional problems among youth in foster
care was feasible within a primary care setting and doubled the detection rate of
potential psychosocial problems.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: June 20, 2011
Accepted:
March 8,
2011
Received:
August 18,
2010
Footnotes
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
