HealthySteps for Social Determinants of Health
(WBWF Trial)
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?
BACKGROUND: The Defense Health Agency (DHA) and the Office of Military Community and Family Policy (MC\&FP) requested assistance in evaluating the effectiveness of a military pilot implementation of a civilian program designed to assist families with infants called HealthySteps (HS; HealthySteps National Office, 2018). HS is a unique pediatric primary care-based program that helps families identify and manage parenting challenges. The program interweaves the medical support of the pediatrician's office with the resources and services of a HS Specialist trained to help parents understand their infants' needs (e.g., feeding, behavior, sleep) and their role as caregivers. HS Specialists provide enhanced educational support and facilitate targeted referrals to other relevant DoD and civilian support resources. OBJECTIVE: The HS program has not been widely implemented or evaluated previously in a military context. However, a small 2-site pilot was initiated in 2017 by MC\&FP to assess the feasibility of offering the HS program in military treatment facilities (MTF). The Defense Health Agency (DHA) further determined that this pilot program could be expanded to fulfill a 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirement for the implementation and evaluation of a pilot program to reduce risk factors for child abuse and neglect within the U.S. military community. APPROACH: This outcome evaluation study entailed a review of medical records for families enrolled in the HS pilot as well as the collection of prospective survey data. Survey data collected from primary caregivers enrolled in HS at seven implementation locations throughout the U.S. is being compared with survey data collected from caregivers of newborns seeking care at control locations offering pediatric treatment as usual. VALUE: The HS program is expected to improve parental engagement in well-baby care, increase targeted screenings and referrals, improve parental efficacy and knowledge, as well as facilitate integration and utilization of existing family services available across disparate military support settings. It also is expected to increase military service satisfaction and perceived support among military parents. Summary reports of study results will be provided to MC\&FP, DHA, and Congress. RESEARCH COLLABORATORS: NHRC is a Department of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery research command located in San Diego, California. Abt Global is a leading civilian professional research corporation with extensive experience in military health research. Investigators from these two institutions are collaborating to conduct this outcome evaluation. STUDY POPULATION: Participating pilot program clinics included 7 military pediatric clinic locations selected by DHA and serving personnel and their families from all U.S. military service branches. All families with children aged 0-4 months seeking well-baby care at participating MTF pilot pediatric clinics were eligible for HS program services and for study recruitment. Additionally, beneficiaries similarly seeking care for a newborn at 11 MTF pediatric clinics providing treatment as usual were eligible for the comparison condition. Medical records for this population were reviewed and prospective survey evaluation data were collected and merged together for ongoing analysis and reporting.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment HealthySteps for Social Determinants of Health?
The research highlights that addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) through screening and care coordination can improve patient well-being and health outcomes. Implementing tools to identify social risk factors and providing care coordination based on these factors have shown positive impacts on patient health, suggesting that similar approaches like HealthySteps could be effective.12345
How is the HealthySteps treatment different from other treatments for addressing social determinants of health?
HealthySteps is unique because it focuses on addressing the social factors that affect health, such as living conditions and access to resources, rather than just medical symptoms. This approach involves collaboration across different sectors to improve overall health equity, which is not typically the focus of standard medical treatments.678910
Research Team
Valerie A. Stander, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Naval Health Research Center
Eligibility Criteria
This study is for families with children aged 0-4 months who are receiving well-baby care at selected military pediatric clinics. It's open to all U.S. military service branch personnel and their families. The trial compares the effectiveness of a program called HealthySteps in a military setting against usual pediatric care.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Recruitment and Enrollment
Recruitment of primary caregivers of newborns aged 0-4 months for the HealthySteps program and comparison group
Data Collection
Collection of baseline, 6-month, and 12-month survey data from participants
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for outcomes such as well-baby care engagement and social determinants of health
Treatment Details
Interventions
- HealthySteps
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Naval Health Research Center
Lead Sponsor
Abt Global
Collaborator