Codesigning a social prescribing pathway to address the social determinant of health concerns of children with cerebral palsy and their families in Australia: a protocol for a mixed-methods formative research study

Laurel Mimmo; Karen Zwi; Susan Woolfenden; Simon Paget; Raghu Lingam; Sarah Mcintyre; Hayley Smithers Sheedy; Valsamma Eapen; Tanya Martin; Timothy Scott; Anne Masi; Iva Strnadová; Katarina Ostojic; Betty-Jean Dee-Price; Heather Burnett; Alison Berg; Michele Scarcella; Jack Calderan; Sheikh Azmatullah; Masyitah Mohamed; Mackenzie Woodbury; Alunya Wilkinson; Russell Dale

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066346

BMJ Open (Apr 2023)

Codesigning a social prescribing pathway to address the social determinant of health concerns of children with cerebral palsy and their families in Australia: a protocol for a mixed-methods formative research study

Laurel Mimmo,
Karen Zwi,
Susan Woolfenden,
Simon Paget,
Raghu Lingam,
Sarah Mcintyre,
Hayley Smithers Sheedy,
Valsamma Eapen,
Tanya Martin,
Timothy Scott,
Anne Masi,
Iva Strnadová,
Katarina Ostojic,
Betty-Jean Dee-Price,
Heather Burnett,
Alison Berg,
Michele Scarcella,
Jack Calderan,
Sheikh Azmatullah,
Masyitah Mohamed,
Mackenzie Woodbury,
Alunya Wilkinson,
Russell Dale

Affiliations

Laurel Mimmo: Population Child Health Research Group, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Karen Zwi: 2 Population Child Health Clinical Research Group, University of New South Wales Medicine & Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Susan Woolfenden: Population Child Health Research Group, School of Women and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Simon Paget: 3 The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Raghu Lingam: BestSTART-South West, Ingham Institute, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Sarah Mcintyre: 9 Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Hayley Smithers Sheedy: Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, Specialty of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Valsamma Eapen: School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Tanya Martin: 7 Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Timothy Scott: 6 Sydney Children`s Hospital Randwick, Sydney Children`s Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Anne Masi: 11 Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales School of Clinical Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Iva Strnadová: School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Katarina Ostojic: 1 Community Paediatrics Research Group, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Betty-Jean Dee-Price: 8 Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Heather Burnett: 5 HNEkidsRehab, John Hunter Children`s Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Alison Berg: 4 The Children`s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children`s Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Michele Scarcella: 10 The Sydney Children`s Hospitals Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Jack Calderan: 12 EPIC-CP Research Group, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Sheikh Azmatullah: 12 EPIC-CP Research Group, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Masyitah Mohamed: 12 EPIC-CP Research Group, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Mackenzie Woodbury: 12 EPIC-CP Research Group, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alunya Wilkinson: 12 EPIC-CP Research Group, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Russell Dale: 3 The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066346
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 4

Abstract

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Introduction Social determinants of health (SDH) are contributors to health inequities experienced by some children with cerebral palsy and pose barriers to families engaging with complex and fragmented healthcare systems. There is emerging evidence to support ‘social prescribing’ interventions that systematically identify SDH concerns and refer patients to non-medical social care support and services to address their needs. To date, social prescribing has not been trialled specifically for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, in Australia. This study aims to codesign a social prescribing programme to address SDH concerns of children with cerebral palsy and their families who attend one of the three tertiary paediatric rehabilitation services in New South Wales, Australia.Methods and analysis This is a qualitative multi-site study conducted at the three NSW paediatric hospitals’ rehabilitation departments using a codesign approach. Children aged 12–18 years with cerebral palsy, parents/caregivers of children (aged 0–18 years) with cerebral palsy, and clinicians will be involved in all stages to codesign the social prescribing programme. The study will consist of three components: (1) ‘what we need’, (2) ‘creating the pathways’ and (3) ‘finalising and sign off’. This project is overseen by two advisory groups: one group of young adults with cerebral palsy and one group of parents of young people with cerebral palsy. The study will be guided by the biopsychosocial ecological framework, and analysis will follow Braun and Clark’s thematic approach.Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by the human research ethics committee of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. This codesign study will inform a future pilot study of feasibility and acceptability, then if indicated, a pilot clinical trial of efficacy. We will collaborate with all project stakeholders to disseminate findings and undertake further research to build sustainable and scalable models of care.Trial registration number ACTRN12622001459718.

Published in BMJ Open

ISSN: 2044-6055 (Online)
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: https://bmjopen.bmj.com

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