Implementation of the Kids-CAT in clinical settings: a newly developed computer-adaptive test to facilitate the assessment of patient-reported outcomes of children and adolescents in clinical practice in Germany

Purpose: To describe the implementation process of a computer-adaptive test (CAT) for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and adolescents in two pediatric clinics in Germany. The study focuses on the feasibility and user experience with the Kids-CAT, particularly the patients’ experience with the tool and the pediatricians’ experience with the Kids-CAT Report. Methods: The Kids-CAT was completed by 312 children and adolescents with asthma, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. The test was applied during four clinical visits over a 1-year period. A feedback report with the test results was made available to the pediatricians. To assess both feasibility and acceptability, a multimethod research design was used. To assess the patients’ experience with the tool, the children and adolescents completed a questionnaire. To assess the clinicians’ experience, two focus groups were conducted with eight pediatricians. Results: The children and adolescents indicated that the Kids-CAT was easy to complete. All pediatricians reported that the Kids-CAT was straightforward and easy to understand and integrate into clinical practice; they also expressed that routine implementation of the tool would be desirable and that the report was a valuable source of information, facilitating the assessment of self-reported HRQoL of their patients. Conclusions: The Kids-CAT was considered an efficient and valuable tool for assessing HRQoL in children and adolescents. The Kids-CAT Report promises to be a useful adjunct to standard clinical care with the potential to improve patient–physician communication, enabling pediatricians to evaluate and monitor their young patients’ self-reported HRQoL

Universelle und Selektive Prävention

Gesellschaftspolitisch genießt das Thema der Prävention psychischer Störungen mittlerweile höchste Priorität. Im Kap. „Universelle und selektive Prävention“ wird zu Beginn die Notwendigkeit präventiver Maßnahmen im Kindes- und Jugendalter untermauert. Anschließend werden Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren für die Altersgruppe vorgestellt. Der Begriff der Prävention wird in seinen verschiedenen Facetten definiert. Im Anschluss wird die Idee einer idealtypischen Entwicklung, Evaluation und Implementierung präventiver Maßnahmen erläutert. Im Mittelpunkt steht der aktuelle Forschungsstand in den Bereichen Essstörung, Angst und Depression sowie Suizidalität. Letztlich wird festgehalten, dass trotz der steigenden Forschungsaktivitäten im deutschsprachigen Raum der Beleg wirksamer Präventionsmaßnahmen als gering einzuschätzen ist. Dass eine intensive Beforschung notwendig ist, zeigt sich insbesondere darin, dass die erwünsche präventive Wirkung durchaus krankheitsauslösende Effekte besitzen kann