Evidence Tools
MCHbest. Medical Home: Referrals.

Overview. Educating parents and caregivers about screening, intervention, and treatment options leads to positive outcomes for children. Implementation of a machine learning-based alert system can significantly increase referrals for epilepsy surgery evaluations among children with epilepsy, with a higher likelihood of referral and surgery in the alert group.[1] Training programs can effectively enhance childcare providers' knowledge and attitudes towards developmental monitoring and referrals, evidenced by increased perceived knowledge and appropriate referral ability.[2]

Evidence. Emerging Evidence. Strategies based on emerging evidence show promise but have not undergone extensive testing. While these approaches demonstrate potential, their effectiveness remains unconfirmed. Prioritize rigorous monitoring to ensure they achieve desired outcomes for all MCH populations.

Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.

Potential Data Sources. Data to support this strategy can be accessed through:

• Pre- and post-program surveys on health knowledge
• Parental health literacy assessments
• Post-intervention satisfaction surveys

Outcome Components. This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes (Read more about these categories):

• Health and Health Behaviors/Behavior Change. This strategy improves individuals' physical and mental health and their adoption of healthy behaviors (e.g., healthy eating, physical activity).
• Utilization. This strategy improves the extent to which individuals and communities use available healthcare services.
• Cost. This strategy helps to decrease the financial expenditure incurred by individuals, healthcare systems, and society in general for healthcare services.

Detailed Outcomes. For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy, access the peer-reviewed evidence and read the Intervention Results for each study.

Intervention Type. Health Teaching (Education and Promotion) (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the Public Health Intervention Wheel).

Intervention Level. Individual/Family-Focused

Examples from the Field. There are currently no ESMs that use this strategy. Search similar intervention components in the ESM database.

Sample ESMs. Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework (see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).