Examining the Outcomes of Project ECHO® as an Interprofessional Community of Practice for Pediatric Feeding Clinicians.
Madeline Raatz, Elizabeth C Ward, Perrin Moss and 6 others
PMID 37454335WHAT IT FOUND
Clinicians working with pediatric feeding disorders reported significantly higher confidence after joining a virtual case-based learning network.
The program was highly rated for its practical, interactive format, which participants preferred over traditional lectures. Fewer requests for external clinical advice were observed during the program period.
Key findings
01Participants reported a statistically significant increase in self-confidence scores from pre-intervention to immediately post-intervention, which was maintained at 3 months.
02During the 8 weeks the program ran, the specialist service received 75% fewer requests for clinical support compared to the 8 weeks prior.
03The majority of participants preferred this virtual, case-based learning model over traditional lecture-style workshops.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study did not include a control group, so changes in confidence and support requests cannot be definitively attributed to the program alone. Outcomes were self-reported; there were no direct measures of clinical skill or patient health. The cohort was heavily weighted toward speech pathologists (68%), with very few occupational therapists (10%) and no physical therapists. The reduction in support requests was measured crudely, and it is unclear if the clinicians requesting help were the same ones participating in the program.
Declared interests
The study was conducted with ethical approval from Children’s Health Queensland. The text notes that Project ECHO is a licensed and trademarked model, but the specific role of the trademark holder in this study's design or funding is not explicitly detailed in the provided text beyond the general description of the model.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reduction in support requests as proof that the program directly caused clinicians to stop asking for help. The study did not verify if the people requesting support were the same individuals who attended the sessions, and there was no control group to account for other factors that might have reduced call volume.