Indikative Präventionsprogramme zur Förderung der seelischen Gesundheit im Vor- und Grundschulalter: Teilnahmebereitschaft von Kinderärzt*innen und Familien an einer innovativen Versorgungskette

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Mental health problems usually have their onset in childhood. Undiagnosed, they may progress into mental disorders. Despite their effectiveness, existing preventive programs have been rarely used. We aimed to examine to what extent the establishment of a care chain can identify children at high risk at an early stage and assign them to preventive interventions. In addition, prevention program participation was assessed. Methods: In a prospective implementation study, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was administered as a screening instrument to families during regular pediatric health examinations (U9–U11, child age 5–10 years). Families received feedback directly from the pediatrician, and in the case of borderline abnormal emotional or behavioral problems, a recommendation for an indicative prevention program. Program indication was additionally determined in an entry examination prior to program participation. Results: In the area of Dresden (Germany), n = 46 (38.7%) pediatricians participated in the project. In n = 28 pediatric practices, n = 3231 (86.4%) families participated in the screening and n = 864 (26.7%) children received a prevention recommendation. Of the families, n = 118/864 (13.7%) self-registered for the prevention programs, n = 215/624 (35.5%) showed interest after being contacted by the study teamn. Through other pathways, n = 139 families requested participation. Clinical evaluation interviews to assess prevention indication were conducted in n = 337 children (n = 461; via all entry pathways). Finally, n = 237 (n = 337) children participated in an indicated prevention program. Conclusion: Expanding screening to mental health problems during regular health checkups is feasible, useful, and widely accepted. In order to implement a care chain, a supply structure should be established to enable referral to and uptake of preventive interventions.

Translated title of the contribution
Indicative prevention programs for mental health promotion in preschool and primary school age
Willingness of pediatricians and families to participate in an innovative care chain

Details

Original languageGerman
Pages (from-to)23-35
Number of pages13
JournalBundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz
Volume67
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Mendeley 31663447-8163-3e7f-bbf0-d73c9efc66f0
ORCID /0000-0002-9687-5527/work/150327473
ORCID /0000-0001-8692-1166/work/150329009
PubMed 37921872

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Childhood emotional and behavioral problems, Prevention, Routine care, Screening for mental health problems, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Prospective Studies, Humans, Child, Preschool, Health Promotion, Pediatricians, Child, Schools, Germany, Childhood emotional and behavioral problems, Prevention, Routine care, Screening for mental health problems, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)