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Evaluating the Impact of Reach Out and Read on Caregiver-Clinician Relationships and Pediatric Care Satisfaction

Principal Investigator

Danielle Erkoboni – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab

Project Description

This study evaluates the impact of the Reach Out and Read program on caregiver experiences within pediatric healthcare settings. Using a difference-in-differences design, the study will compare caregiver outcomes in clinics newly implementing Reach Out and Read to those in comparison clinics not yet implementing the model. The study will follow more than 300 caregivers of infants from early well-child visits through 18 months, collecting repeated measures of caregiver-clinician relationship quality, satisfaction with care, and healthcare engagement. Additional outcomes include well-child visit attendance, vaccine adherence, and clinician well-being. The study is designed to provide rigorous evidence on whether integrating literacy support into pediatric care improves both family experience and healthcare utilization, with implications for Medicaid reimbursement and broader adoption in healthcare systems.

Research Questions

  • What is the impact of Reach Out and Read on caregiver perceptions of the clinician relationship and satisfaction with pediatric care?
  • Does improved caregiver satisfaction and relationship quality lead to increased healthcare engagement, including well-child visit attendance and vaccine adherence?
  • How does the implementation of Reach Out and Read affect clinician satisfaction, well-being, and burnout?

Status

In Progress

Study Type

QED

Grantee

Reach Out and Read

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab

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Young boy sits in desk at school

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