Implementing Centering Parenting Model With an Urban Pediatric Population to Measure and Improve Clinical Outcomes and Parent Satisfaction

Abstract

For CenteringParenting-a patient-centered, group family approach to child health-this study aimed to determine how the CenteringParenting model affects clinical outcomes compared with the traditional well-child care model and how the CenteringParenting model affect parent satisfaction as compared with the traditional well-child care model. This study was conducted at the Children's Health Center in West Reading, PA-a single-site pediatric practice that serves primarily an inner city with a population currently at 95,112. Quantitative data collection was obtained from a retrospective chart review for both groups of patients to obtain outcome data. Phone interviews were completed, and participants were asked to respond to a series of questions using a 5-point Likert scale and several open-ended questions. All statistical analyses for this research were performed using SPSS (version 25.0; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Two groups were coded as the centering group and control group. Significance testing was performed using chi-square analysis for categorical data and t test for continuous data. CenteringParenting children are more likely to be UTD with their scheduled visits and vaccines than those receiving the traditional model of well-child care. Maternal depression screenings were more likely to be completed and documented and open discussions about maternal depression. Parents involved with group visits found it to be great care, liked being with other parents, learned a lot, and would recommend it to other parents. Limitations of the study include being a new site offering the CHI program for group well-child visits. As the program has continued to progress over the years, it has continued to grow and is now offered in both English and Spanish. Another limitation was not having trained breastfeeding professionals such as lactation counselors, consultants, or breastfeeding resource nurses. Future research is needed to study the implementation of breastfeeding in minority populations. In addition, a more in-depth study about triage calls and if parents feel more comfortable calling if they have a better connection to their provider and health care team. This issue was not addressed or questioned in this research and would be very beneficial to understand in the future how it relates to CPGs.