Unmet social needs in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease linked to increased risk of missed appointments
- 1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx New York USA.
- 2Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology Kaiser Permanente Fontana California USA.
- 3Community Health & Engagement, Department of Pediatrics. The Children's Hospital at Montefiore Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx New York USA.
Abstract
Objectives
Health-related social needs (HRSNs) are associated with worse health outcomes. This study aimed to identify unmet HRSNs in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and evaluate their association with missed medical and biologic infusion appointments.Methods
This study was conducted in an ambulatory pediatric gastroenterology program and infusion center from December 2021 to December 2024. Patients with IBD or guardians completed a standardized HRSNs screen. The primary outcome was the number of missed medical and infusion appointments in the year prior to screening. Bivariate and multivariable models without and with adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics were used.Results
A total of 191 patients with IBD were screened (median age 16 years, 68.59% male). Overall, 17.8% screened positive for HRSNs. Among patients with at least one completed medical appointment (n = 184), 54% had one or more missed appointments. Patients with HRSNs had a 63% (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11, 2.38, p = 0.0121) higher rate of missed medical appointments, which remained significant after adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, and sex (IRR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.28, p = 0.0212). Inadequate housing (8.38%), followed by food insecurity (6.81%) were the most prevalent HRSNs in our pediatric population. Unmet needs related to utilities (p = 0.0013), transportation (p = 0.0014) and healthcare cost (p = 0.0282) were significantly associated with missed appointments. Positive HRSNs were not associated with missed biologic therapy infusions (p = 0.155).Conclusion
HRSNs were significantly associated with missed medical appointments. Future research should aim to develop strategies that address specific HRSNs, along with personalized interventions to the individual circumstances.
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BibTeX
@article{pryce2026unmet,
title = {{Unmet social needs in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease linked to increased risk of missed appointments}},
author = {Kayla Pryce and Faria Hasan and Samantha Levano and Kathleen Shea and Inessa Normatov and Yolanda Rivas and Kevin Fiori and Gitit Tomer},
journal = {JPGN reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/jpr3.70295},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717534},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Unmet social needs in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease linked to increased risk of missed appointments
AU - Kayla Pryce
AU - Faria Hasan
AU - Samantha Levano
AU - Kathleen Shea
AU - Inessa Normatov
AU - Yolanda Rivas
AU - Kevin Fiori
AU - Gitit Tomer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - JPGN reports
DO - 10.1002/jpr3.70295
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13717534
AB - Objectives Health-related social needs (HRSNs) are associated with worse health outcomes. This study aimed to identify unmet HRSNs in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and evaluate their association with missed medical and biologic infusion appointments.Methods This study was conducted in an ambulatory pediatric gastroenterology program and infusion center from December 2021 to December 2024. Patients with IBD or guardians completed a standardized HRSNs screen. The primary outcome was the number of missed medical and infusion appointments in the year prior to screening. Bivariate and multivariable models without and with adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics were used.Results A total of 191 patients with IBD were screened (median age 16 years, 68.59% male). Overall, 17.8% screened positive for HRSNs. Among patients with at least one completed medical appointment (n = 184), 54% had one or more missed appointments. Patients with HRSNs had a 63% (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11, 2.38, p = 0.0121) higher rate of missed medical appointments, which remained significant after adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, and sex (IRR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.28, p = 0.0212). Inadequate housing (8.38%), followed by food insecurity (6.81%) were the most prevalent HRSNs in our pediatric population. Unmet needs related to utilities (p = 0.0013), transportation (p = 0.0014) and healthcare cost (p = 0.0282) were significantly associated with missed appointments. Positive HRSNs were not associated with missed biologic therapy infusions (p = 0.155).Conclusion HRSNs were significantly associated with missed medical appointments. Future research should aim to develop strategies that address specific HRSNs, along with personalized interventions to the individual circumstances.
SN - 2691-171X
ER -