JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Pediatric behavioral health needs have skyrocketed during the COVID-19-pandemic. Currently, parents do not have well-established tools to identify risk and protective factors for pediatric behavioral health needs resulting during the pandemic.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of a patient-reported outcomes measure to help parents understand critical risk and protective factors for their children’s behavioral health and the associations that may exist between these factors and parents’ COVID-19 exposure and workplace productivity

Methods:

We designed a 30-item COVID-19 Behavioral Health Instrument (COBI) using items from three existing, validated clinical instruments augmented by a set of questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and workplace productivity. Multivariable linear regression was used to characterize the relationship between these variables and workplace productivity. Participants (n=361) completed the COBI online between October 2020 and November 2021.

Results:

In the multivariable model, higher pediatric stress and time spent managing children’s behavioral health needs were associated with greater productivity loss among working parents, whereas higher family connection was associated with lower productivity loss. COVID-19 diagnoses among parents and dependents, financial impact of COVID-19 on households, and family resilience were not associated with parents’ workplace productivity.

Conclusions:

The novel COBI captured child stress and family resilience and connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Feedback provided by COBI can empower parents by providing them with insights into managing their child’s behavioral health concerns and directing them to resources to address their needs. Furthermore, insights from COBI can help both parents and their employers understand the impact childrens’ behavioral health needs can have on workplace productivity.