Mindfulness as an Effective Strategy for Anxiety Relief in Adolescent Patients

Anxiety disorders affect 6.8 million adults over the age of 18 in the United States, and anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illness in children. Risk Factors for anxiety disorders in young adults include the following: -Shyness, or behavioral inhibition, in childhood -Being of the female sex -Having few economic resources -Exposure to stressful life events in childhood -Anxiety disorders in close biological relatives -Parental history of mental disorders -Elevated afternoon cortisol levels in the saliva Teens and young adults increasingly suffer from anxiety disorders with the CDC reporting the rate of anxiety disorders among 3 to 17 year olds in the range of 3% with current symptoms to 4.7% having ever reported having anxiety. Mindfulness or the ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overwhelmed by what’s going on around us, can be effective means to manage stress and anxiety symptoms. Primary care physicians can introduce and practice mindfulness strategies within patient visits in addition to or replacement for management with medications.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1349/thumbnail.jp

Analysis of Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs: A Parent\u27s Perspective

Introduction. Care coordination involves organizing patient care activities and sharing information among all of the participants concerned with a patient\u27s care to achieve improved outcomes, a recent national focus. Compared to the national average, a higher percentage of Vermont children are cared for in an office that meets medical home criteria. However, there is limited research on medical home and care coordination for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in the state of Vermont. Objectives. The goal of this study was to assess family perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes about how well care coordination is working for Vermont families with CSHCN. Methods. A paper and an electronic anonymous survey was developed for Vermont families with CSHCN. The surveys were then distributed by Vermont Family Network and the UVMMC Department of Pediatrics. Focus group interviews were also conducted at Vermont Family Network to provide family insight to explain the quantitative data. Results. 30 participants responded to the survey; only 20 completed it. The overall composite satisfaction score is 54%. This score takes into account 4 questions regarding care coordination satisfaction. Each question was formatted into a numerical value ranging from zero to five, with an overall score of 20 equating to 100% satisfaction. Discussion. Findings indicate that families with CSHCN are not satisfied with the level of care coordination currently provided. Respondents reported many barriers regarding care coordination, including lack of communication among health care providers, insurance coverage, and lack of support during transitional periods in care. Recommended improvements were identified.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1251/thumbnail.jp