“A National Review of Crowdfunding for Plagiocephaly Helmets”

Abstract

Objective Custom prescription helmets for plagiocephaly may be a significant financial burden for families, especially when not covered by insurance. This study aims to identify factors that influence the success of crowdsourcing campaigns for this therapy. Design GoFundMe campaigns were collected by searching terms such as “plagiocephaly” and “baby helmet.” Two reviewers analyzed each campaign for variables, including demographic data, story elements, and photo characteristics. Univariate logistic regression was used to determine each variable's impact on success, defined as attaining ≥75% of a campaign goal and significance of p ≤ 0.05. Results Campaign data from 2011 to 2022 were analyzed. Initial search yielded 1464 campaigns; among these 413 met final inclusion criteria. On average, campaigns raised $2005 (range: $0-$7799) and requested $3151 (range: $160-$30,000). In total, 228 (54%) achieved success, 167 (40%) met their goal, and 35 (8%) raised no funds. A total of $828,256 was raised from the requested $1,301,317. The average reported age was six months (range: 2–17 m). Significant factors associated with success were military affiliation, providing multiple images, including a quoted cost, providing campaign updates, indicating a sense of urgency, diagnosis of torticollis, and mentioning possible complications without treatment. Raising additional funds for therapy, multiple helmets, and unrelated medical costs negatively impacted success. Racial disparities were observed between campaigns. Additionally, regional differences were noted between campaigns. Conclusions Crowdsourcing can be a successful endeavor for some families experiencing financial hardships from helmet therapy. This study highlights current gaps within healthcare coverage for helmet treatment and identifies various factors influencing crowdfunding campaigns.