98 Seeing the Unseen– A Retrospective Review of the Demographic Characteristics of a Place-based, Inner-City Social Paediatrics Program

Abstract

Abstract Background Social paediatrics is a holistic approach to child and youth health that considers the society and environment the child lives in, and aims to address social determinants of health (SDoH) to improve health equity. Place-based social paediatrics clinics minimize health disparities through outreach programs, navigational support, and facilitating access to specialty care services. This model of care was developed in the past few decades as it became widely accepted that SDoH and adverse childhood events have a direct impact on child health. Typical clinic demographics and most prevalent care needs are not well described. Objectives Identify key demographic features and common diagnoses seen by a social paediatrics program’s primary and specialty care services. Design/Methods Ethical approval was obtained from institutional REB. A retrospective chart review of patients accessing the program between Jan 1, 2018 and April 30, 2021, with no additional exclusion criteria, was conducted. Demographic information, factors influencing SDoH, and past medical history were collected. Basic descriptive statistics were used for analysis of the data collected. Results 144 charts have been reviewed to date. The mean age in years at initial assessment was 6.22 (0.07–25.84). The most commonly documented ethnicity was Indigenous (30%), followed by Latinx (8%) and Middle Eastern (8%); 45% of patients were unspecified, as race is not consistently collected in Canadian health records. Poverty was mentioned as an issue in 52 (36%) patients’ charts, ministry involvement noted in 29 (20%), and substance use in 45 (31%) of households. 74 (51%) of charts had evidence of at least one adverse SDoH (e.g. financial and/or housing instability, food insecurity) that could negatively influence health equity. The most frequently documented diagnoses were skin disorders (38%), ADHD (31%), upper respiratory tract infections (29%), learning disability (27%), and speech delay (25%). Developmental disorders were diagnosed in 79 (55%) patients and 45 (31%) had at least one incidence of being seen by a nurse practitioner or general paediatrician for a mental health concern. Conclusion Place-based, equity-oriented social paediatrics clinics see more socially and developmentally complex individuals than traditional paediatric clinics or community health programs. Data analysis of the population seen by our inner-city program found 55% and 31% of patients had developmental and mental concerns, respectively. This suggests that clinicians planning or working in similar programs should be prepared to support neurodevelopmental, mental health, and common medical conditions (e.g. skin disorders and infections).