title: Examining the utility of behavioral health integration in well-child visits: implications for rural settings.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of integrating behavioral health services into well-child visits in underserved, remote, and/or fringe areas. Specifically, the following were examined: the structure of the well-child visit for standard care in comparison to when a behavioral health provider was integrated into the visit and the effect of integrating a behavioral health provider on behavioral health topics covered and parent satisfaction. Participants were 94 caregivers of children attending well-child visits. Group differences were examined for participants in well-child visits with a behavioral health provider and participants in a standard well-child visit. Findings suggest a statistically significant increase in caregiver-rated perception for the number of topics covered with the integration of a behavioral health provider in the well-child visits. No significant effects of caregiver-rated helpfulness or satisfaction were observed. Implications for the findings and future research directions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Jennifer D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences, University of Oregon.
authors.forename: S Andrew
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Garbacz
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center.
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kupzyk
authors.affiliation: Complete Children's Health.
authors.forename: Lynae
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frerichs
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gathje
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population