Browsing by Author "Sandhu, Sahil"

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    A Tailored SMS Text Message-Based Intervention to Facilitate Patient Access to Referred Community-Based Social Needs Resources: Protocol for a Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study.
    (JMIR research protocols, 2022-10) Lian, Tyler; Reid, Hadley; Rader, Abigail; Dewitt-Feldman, Sarah; Hezarkhani, Elmira; Gu, Elizabeth; Scott, Malik; Scott, Malik; Kutzer, Kate; Sandhu, Sahil; Crowder, Carolyn; Ito, Kristin; Eisenson, Howard; Bettger, Janet Prvu; Shaw, Ryan J; Lewinski, Allison A; Ming, David Y; Bosworth, Hayden B; Zullig, Leah L; Batch, Bryan C; Drake, Connor

    Background

    Health care providers are increasingly screening patients for unmet social needs (eg, food, housing, transportation, and social isolation) and referring patients to relevant community-based resources and social services. Patients' connection to referred services is often low, however, suggesting the need for additional support to facilitate engagement with resources. SMS text messaging presents an opportunity to address barriers related to contacting resources in an accessible, scalable, and low-cost manner.

    Objective

    In this multi-methods pilot study, we aim to develop an automated SMS text message-based intervention to promote patient connection to referred social needs resources within 2 weeks of the initial referral and to evaluate its feasibility and patient acceptability. This protocol describes the intervention, conceptual underpinnings, study design, and evaluation plan to provide a detailed illustration of how SMS technology can complement current social needs screening and referral practice patterns without disrupting care.

    Methods

    For this pilot prospective cohort study, this SMS text message-based intervention augments an existing social needs screening, referral, and navigation program at a federally qualified health center. Patients who received at least one referral for any identified unmet social need are sent 2 rounds of SMS messages over 2 weeks. The first round consists of 5-10 messages that deliver descriptions of and contact information for the referred resources. The second round consists of 2 messages that offer a brief reminder to contact the resources. Participants will evaluate the intervention via a survey and a semistructured interview, informed by an adapted technology acceptance model. Rapid qualitative and thematic analysis will be used to extract themes from the responses. Primary outcomes are implementation feasibility and patient acceptability. Secondary outcomes relate to intervention effectiveness: self-reported attempt to connect and successful connection to referred resources 2 weeks after the initial referral encounter.

    Results

    The study received regulatory approval in May 2021, and we anticipate enrolling 15-20 participants for this initial pilot.

    Conclusions

    This protocol presents detailed implementation methods about a novel automated SMS intervention for social care integration within primary care. By sharing the study protocol early, we intend to facilitate the development and adoption of similar tools across different clinical settings, as more health care providers seek to address the unmet social needs of patients. Study findings will provide practical insights into the design and implementation of SMS text message-based interventions to improve social and medical care coordination.

    International registered report identifier (irrid)

    DERR1-10.2196/37316.
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    Perceived barriers and supports to accessing community-based services for Uganda's pediatric post-surgical population.
    (Disability and rehabilitation, 2019-12-15) Barton, Sarah Jean; Sandhu, Sahil; Doan, Isabelle; Blanchard, Lillian; Dai, Alex; Paulenich, Alexandra; Smith, Emily R; van de Water, Brittney J; Martin, Anna H; Seider, Jasmine; Namaganda, Florence; Opolot, Shem; Ekeji, Nelia; Bility, Mathama Malakha; Bettger, Janet Prvu
    Background: Access to pediatric surgical intervention in low-income countries is expanding, but investments in post-surgical care have received less attention. This study explored the barriers and supports for school-aged children to access post-surgical, community-based follow-up care in Uganda as perceived by community stakeholders.Materials and methods: This qualitative exploratory case study used in-depth, semi-structured interviews and in-country site visits among Ugandan organizations providing follow-up care to school-aged children in Uganda after surgery. Data from eight interviews and eight site visits were coded, analyzed, and cross-tabulated with a modified grounded theory approach.Results: Four key barriers to community-based follow-up care were identified: discrimination, financial barriers, geographical barriers (including transportation), and caregiver limitations to support recovery. Three key supports to successful access to and participation in community-based post-surgical recovery were identified: disability awareness, the provision of sustained follow-up care, and caregiver supports for reintegration.Conclusions: Increasing awareness of disability across local Ugandan communities, educating caregivers with accessible and culturally aware approaches, and funding sustainable follow-up care programming provide promising avenues for pediatric post-surgical recovery and community reintegration in contemporary Uganda.Implications for rehabilitationMultiple, intersecting factors prevent or promote access to post-surgical community-based services among school-aged children in Uganda.The most prominent barriers to pediatric community reintegration in Uganda include discrimination, lack of financial resources, geographical factors, and caregiver limitations.Community and interprofessional alliances must address disability awareness and sources of stigma in local contexts to promote optimal recovery and reintegration after surgery.Collaborative efforts are needed to develop sustainable funding for community-based care programs that specifically support pediatric post-surgical recovery and reintegration.Efforts to provide appropriate and empowering caregiver education are critical, particularly in geographical regions where ongoing access to rehabilitation professionals is minimal.