Pediatric Mental Disorders and Related Screening Practices: Qualitative Insights from Early Childhood Educators

Gaurav Kumar; Priyanka Chaudhary; Cady Walker; Dejun Su; Drissa M. Toure

Global Pediatrics (Dec 2023)

Pediatric Mental Disorders and Related Screening Practices: Qualitative Insights from Early Childhood Educators

Gaurav Kumar,
Priyanka Chaudhary,
Cady Walker,
Dejun Su,
Drissa M. Toure

Affiliations

Gaurav Kumar: Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984388 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Corresponding author at: Graduate Research Assistant. Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984388 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
Priyanka Chaudhary: Graduate Research Assistant, School of Health and Kinesiology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
Cady Walker: Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984388 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
Dejun Su: Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984388 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
Drissa M. Toure: Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6
p. 100084

Abstract

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Objective: The purpose of this research is to qualitatively identify perceived concerns about mental disorders among children and related screening practices for mental illness among early childcare and education providers. Design: Qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach was used. Sample: 53 early childcare and education providers from Nebraska participated in semi-structured interviews focused on mental disorders and related screening practices among children. Methods: The recorded interviews were transcribed, coded, and systematically analyzed through thematic content analysis. Results: The analysis identified two themes concerning pediatric mental health disorders and screening practices. The first theme, mental health concerns, includes three categories: perceived level of mental disorder (n=39; 74 %), most common (attention-deficit disorder [n=28; 53.8 %] and anxiety [n=13; 25.6 %]), and least common (mood disorders [n=5; 10.2 %] and substance abuse [n=8; 15.4 %]). The second theme, screening practices, reflects the use of screening tools and their implication to screen mental disorders and suggested one category: screening measure usage (Ages and Stages and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers). Conclusion: Among the 53 participants, 39 or 74 % of them stated their concern about pediatric mental health disorders in their organization, with some of the most commonly reported disorders including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (53.8 %), anxiety (25.6 %), depression (17.9 %), and substance use (15.4 %). Participants were also concerned about the lack of standard screening instruments for mental health issues among children of ages 0 to 5. There is a need for early childcare organizations, healthcare providers, and educational organizations to collaborate and implement a coordinated approach to improving Nebraska's pediatric mental health.

Published in Global Pediatrics

ISSN: 2667-0097 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Pediatrics
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/global-pediatrics

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