Important parking update for Jonathan Lucas Parking Garage in Charleston.

Current SCPPRN Projects

MoVeUP Qualitative and Mobile Application Trial

  • As a member of the IDEA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN), SCPPRN participated in a randomized controlled trial evaluating pediatric COVID-19 vaccination uptake using an mHealth tool.
  • Prior to the start of the randomized controlled trial, qualitative data was collected from parents seen in 3 SCPPRN practices.
  • Parental comments on why they were for or against the COVID-19 vaccine for their child were collected.
  • The responses from participants were analyzed and used to develop the mHealth tool that is being used in the randomized control trial.
  • The same 3 SCPPRN practices that participated in the qualitative portion, are also participating in the randomized control trial. We are recruiting parents with children ages 6 months to 17 years that are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but have not yet received a dose.
  • Participants are randomized in to 1 of 2 app groups: 1) General Pediatric Health app OR 2) General Pediatric Health app + COVID-19 vaccine information.
  • Over a 24 week period, participants receive weekly push notifications with information from their app. Parents are also asked to complete 4 short surveys over the course of the study. (Baseline, Week 8, Week 16, and Week 24)
  • After completion of the study, study coordinators verify, via electronic medical record, whether or not the child(ren) did or did not received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during the 24 week study period.

FIT Families

  • 5 SCPPRN practices are partnering with MUSC Division of Psychology in a clinical trial to study the efficacy of the FIT Families program to improve weight status in African American Adolescents with Obesity.
  • We are recruiting eligible parent/child dyads to participate in an 18 month program that provides education and support for families around nutrition and physical activity with the goal of weight loss.
  • For 6 months of the 18 month program, parents and children meet with a community health worker (CHW) to develop nutrition plans and set physical activity goals.
  • Over the course of the program, the CHWs monitor food intake, physical activity, and weight loss.
  • Participants also meet with a member of the research team 4 times over the course of the program to complete questionnaires.

Weather Emergency Readiness in SC Pediatric Caregivers

  • Survey delivered to 11 SCPPRN practices.
  • Surveyed parents seen in the participating practice for any visit and evaluated the attitudes and knowledge level of caregivers in order to assess the need for further education or increased public health measures regarding weather emergencies.
  • We are currently in the data collection/ analysis phase, with a goal for a fall submission to the PAS meetings.

Adolescent Vaccine Next Steps

  • SCPPRN is partnering with the Oklahoma Child Health
    Research Network (OCHRN) and the Oklahoma Physician’s Resource/Research Network (OKPRN) to design a new study evaluating a communications intervention to improve vaccine delivery in adolescents by evaluating types of provider recommendations.  
  • Surveys will be distributed to providers to identify patterns of vaccine recommendation. 
  • We will also survey front office staff regarding attitudes about vaccines and to parents to identify responses to vaccine recommendations. 
  • At the practice level, an audit of the immunization rate at a clinic will also be conducted.

 “PLEASE” Study 

  • 14 SCPPRN practices are partnering with MUSC Division of Neonatology in an effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial to study the Promotion of Lactation Education, Access, and Support Efforts for Pre-term Infants (“PLEASE”).
  • This study aims to determine if pediatric clinic-based lactation counseling support improves preterm infant’s intake of MM post-hospital discharge.
  • This study also evaluates the strategies adopted in the outpatient setting to deliver a specialized pediatric lactation support and care.
  • Mothers of infants are surveyed 5 times via telephone through 6 months post discharge regarding their feeding of their infants.
  • Growth and illness data is also collected from the infant’s medical record.

Childhood Obesity Survey of South Carolina Providers

  • This study will assess current management of childhood obesity in pediatric practices and provider’s use of technology.
  • Beliefs of whether technology could help providers become more effective will also be assessed along with provider’s willingness to use technology to help patients adopt healthier lifestyles in the future.

 Electronic Data Capture

  • MUSC Division of General Pediatrics is partnering with the Care Coordination Institute (CCI) to develop a repository of pediatric practice data.
  • We have developed “report cards” to allow practices to view their performance on core quality measures as designated by Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA).