The Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Adherence and Self-Management

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique circumstances that have the potential to both positively and negatively affect pediatric adherence and self-management in youth with chronic medical conditions. The following paper discusses how these circumstances (e.g., stay-at-home orders, school closures, changes in pediatric healthcare delivery) impact disease management at the individual, family, community, and healthcare system levels. We also discuss how barriers to pediatric adherence and self-management exacerbated by the pandemic may disproportionately affect underserved and vulnerable populations, potentially resulting in greater health disparities. Given the potential for widespread challenges to pediatric disease management during the pandemic, ongoing monitoring and promotion of adherence and self-management is critical. Technology offers several opportunities for this via telemedicine, electronic monitoring, and mobile apps. Moreover, pediatric psychologists are uniquely equipped to develop and implement adherence-promotion efforts to support youth and their families in achieving and sustaining optimal disease management as the current public health situation continues to evolve. Research efforts addressing the short- and long-term impact of the pandemic on pediatric adherence and self-management are needed to identify both risk and resilience factors affecting disease management and subsequent health outcomes during this unprecedented time.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review

“…The second, the topics and references. Category Topic and references Change to medical practice Mental health care [254] , [257] , [261] , [273] , [274] , [275] ; Emergency care [276] , [277] ; Substance abuse [253] , [263] , [278] , [279] , [280] ; Oncological care [264] , [281] Health care practices [255] , [259] , [262] , [282] , [283] , [284] ; Pediatric care [283] , [285] Other care [256] , [260] , [268] , [286] , [287] , [288] Modeling Modeling approaches [28] , [265] , [289] , [290] , [291] , [292] , [293] ; Transmission dynamics [294] , [295] , [296] , [297] , [298] Mobile phone data [29] ; estimation [258] Effect of NPIs Effects on: children ...…”

“…This is the largest group of comments and/or perspectives. We find articles focused on a range of medical specialities: mental health care [254] , [257] , [261] , [273] , [274] , [275] , emergency care [276] , [277] , substance abuse [253] , [263] , [278] , [279] , [280] , oncological care [264] , [281] , health care practices [255] , [259] , [262] , [282] , [283] , [284] , pediatric care [283] , [285] , and other care [256] , [260] , [268] , [286] , [287] , [288] .…”

“…Authors in Ref. [283] discuss the changes to care in pediatric settings. They acknowledge the key role of telemedicine, discuss the opportunities, barriers, and call for future research aimed at characterize the possible short and long term effects of this change in care.…”

The psychosocial impact of COVID-19 within the first six months of the pandemic on youth with epilepsy and their caregivers

“…To date, no published studies of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with epilepsy and their families in the US exist; however, papers have highlighted that barriers to self-/family management of pediatric chronic health conditions exacerbated by the pandemic may have a greater effect on underserved and vulnerable populations, such as children with epilepsy [19]. A few international studies provide insight into how individuals with epilepsy and their families are coping.…”

Assistance and health care provided to adolescents with chronic and immunosuppressive conditions in a tertiary university hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Telemedicine and telepsychology were used during the quarantine period. These models have become a challenge in clinical practice because they are not typically used in the care of pediatric patients with chronic conditions ( 4 ).…”