820 - Changes in Self-reported Expertise and Clinic Settings of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians in Academic Medical Centers: A DBP Net Study

Publication Number: 820.4485

Pamela C. HIgh, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; Nancy Roizen, Professor of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Nathan J. Blum, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Ruth EK. Stein, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Larchmont, NY, United States; Justine Shults, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Marilyn Augustyn, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Somerville, MA, United States

Background: In the first 11 years following approval of board certification in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, the proportion of developmental-behavioral pediatricians (DBPs) with self-reported expertise in ADHD and ASD increased; the proportion with self-reported expertise declined in a variety of other areas (Roizen et al, 2017).

Objective: Compare the areas of self-reported expertise and clinical settings of DBPs 20 years after certification in 2003 and 10 years after the last Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network (DBPNet) survey in 2014.

Design/Methods: Data on the demographics, expertise and clinic settings at 12 academic centers and 50 DBPs in 2014 and 15 centers and 88 DBPs in 2024 was obtained by a self-report survey. Categorical data from the 2024 survey were compared to the 2014 survey using the Chi-Square or Fisher’s Exact Test.

Results: (Table 1) Demographics revealed no changes in race, sex, or percent working full time (FT). The most frequent areas of self-reported expertise continued to be ADHD and ASD. Child/Adolescent mental health and chronic conditions continued to be common areas of expertise. Self-reported expertise decreased in several areas: Adoption, Family systems, Feeding, Genetics, Learning disabilities, Metabolic disorders, Muscular dystrophy, Sleep problems, and Spina bifida. There were no areas which increased.

Conclusion(s): The field of DBP continues to evolve with a focus of expertise in ADHD and ASD likely related to the increasing prevalence of ASD and continued high prevalence of ADHD. Expertise in other developmental and behavioral issues is decreased paralleling the decreased activity in these clinical settings. These changes have implications for training, patient care, and workforce development.

Cite: Roizen N, et al. Academic Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Faculty at Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Research Network Sites: Changing Composition and Interests. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2017 Nov/Dec;38(9):683-689.

Table 1. Demographics and Expertise
Table 1. Demograhpics and Expertise - PAS abstract 2024-25.pdf*P-values are from chi-square tests that the proportion in 2015 is equal to the proportion in 2024.

Table 2. Clinic Types
Table 2 Clinic types- PAS 2024-25.pdf*P-values are from chi-square tests that the proportion in 2015 is equal to the proportion in 2024.