P2475 - The Impact of COVID-19 on the Development of a Newly Integrated GI Psychology Program in a Community-Based Hospital Setting

Elyse Thakur, PhD¹, Baha Moshiree, MD², Mackenzie Jarvis, PA-C¹, Jason Baker, PhD^1
1Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC; ²Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC

Introduction: Brain-gut psychotherapies are efficacious, resulting in recognition of integrated GI psychology (GI-PSY) services. However, the COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic changed the healthcare landscape. Aim of this study was to characterize referral patterns and baseline health status during the peak of the C-19 pandemic in a community-based GI-PSY program.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of adults who had a baseline assessment for GI-PSY services in a community GI center during the C-19 peak in North Carolina (11/2020-2/2021). Demographics, referring provider specialty (Physician [PN], Advanced Practice Provider [APP]), and self-reported GI symptoms were obtained. Participants completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale (Range: 0-21; higher scores = more severe anxiety), PHQ-9 (Range: 0-27; higher scores = more severe depression), PHQ-15 (Range: 0-30; higher scores = greater levels of somatization), and the PROMIS Global-10 (assesses physical (PH) and mental domains (MH) of quality of life via a T-score distribution). Comparison between PN vs. APP was examined on these measures. Statistical analyses included: t-test, chi-square, and linear regression models. P-values < 0.05 are considered statistically significant.

Results: 30 participants (mean age = 38.3±16.9: Range: 18-75; 60.0% female; 80% functional or motility referrals) were included. Referral provider distribution: PN (64%) vs. APP (36%). The mean Global-10 MH was statistically significance for APP vs. PN referrals: 46.7 vs. 35.1, p = 0.02. A significant trend was found for PHQ-15 scores for APP vs. PN: 13.9 vs. 9.9, p =0.09. No significant differences related to self-reported GI symptoms for PN vs. APP in GI-PSY referrals. Linear regression models using health outcomes as the dependent variable controlling for age, sex, and referral provider depicted: GAD-7 (females [p=0.02] and PN (p = 0.05) were associated with greater anxiety; PHQ-9 (PN [p=0.02] for higher levels of depressive symptoms; PHQ-15 (females [p=0.004] and PN [p=0.05] for greater levels of somatic symptoms); MH (PN [p=0.10] for lower quality of life).

Discussion: During the NC C-19 peak, GI-PSY patients referred by PN vs. APP differed on baseline psychological status. GI-PSY female patients referred by PNs had more severe anxiety, depression, somatization, and lower levels of MH-related quality of life. Further investigation is warranted to identify factors associated with GI-PSY referral patterns among providers.


Disclosures:


Elyse Thakur, PhD¹, Baha Moshiree, MD², Mackenzie Jarvis, PA-C¹, Jason Baker, PhD¹. P2475 - The Impact of COVID-19 on the Development of a Newly Integrated GI Psychology Program in a Community-Based Hospital Setting, ACG 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Las Vegas, Nevada: American College of Gastroenterology.