Health providers’ perceived barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the electronic Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicidal Ideation and Safety (e-HEEADSSS) assessment

OBJECTIVE: Since 2008, routine psychosocial assessment of young people with chronic conditions has been recommended in Australia. However, routine psychosocial screening across Australian health settings remains varied. This study examined clinicians' perceptions about the use of the 'Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicidal Ideation and Safety' (HEEADSSS) and digital e-HEEADSSS. METHODS AND MEASURES: Nine clinicians from an adolescent and young adult hospital clinic were interviewed. Participants met the inclusion criteria of not previously using e-HEEADSSS. Deductive coding guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research 2.0 was employed. RESULTS: Participants reported that the HEEADSSS may be favourable to the e-HEEADSSS due to rapport-building. The e-HEEADSSS was perceived to be advantageous due to timesaving and a potential increase in disclosure of sensitive or embarrassing information from youth. Concerns for the e-HEEADSSS included assessment frequency and appropriate timely escalation. Participants suggested that services should introduce the e-HEEADSSS so clinicians could choose whether to use the traditional or digital psychosocial assessment, which may allow for increased uptake and service-appropriate screening of youth. CONCLUSION: Participants who had not used the e-HEEADSSS recognised potential benefits for increasing the proportion of young people with chronic conditions to complete a psychosocial assessment screening during clinic visits.