Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42070006›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2026

A simulation study of a long-term neurodevelopmental care pathway for children with congenital heart disease.

Pakhi Sharma, Thomasina Donovan, Bridget Abell, Steven M McPhail, Karen J Eagleson, Sonia Riley, William Parsonage, Adrian G Barnett, Robert Justo, Susan Pagel and 2 more

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Article in Pediatric research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Pakhi SharmaAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. p32.sharma@qut.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3309-0933
Thomasina DonovanAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Bridget AbellAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Steven M McPhailAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Karen J EaglesonQueensland Paediatric Cardiac Service, Queensland Children's Hospital, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Sonia RileyDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Queensland Children's Hospital, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
William ParsonageAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Adrian G BarnettAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Robert JustoQueensland Paediatric Cardiac Service, Queensland Children's Hospital, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Susan PagelChild Development Service, Queensland Children's Hospital, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Ben AuldQueensland Paediatric Cardiac Service, Queensland Children's Hospital, Children's Health Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Nicole WhiteAustralian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOngoing neurodevelopmental care is essential for children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Understanding delivery and uptake of neurodevelopmental care pathways can inform implementation and resource planning. This study applied simulation modelling to explore outcomes from a neurodevelopmental care pathway for children with CHD.

methodsThe model was developed using data from a Queensland program to explore health service interactions for neurodevelopmental screening, formal assessment, and early intervention, up to five years. Modelling was intended to provide a baseline understanding of the pathway, rather than evaluating against a reference standard. Hypothetical scenarios explored how changes in screening and referrals influenced the identification of developmental concerns, and how developmental concern severity affected intervention referrals.

resultsBased on available data, 58% of the cohort remained under routine surveillance and 25% had accessed early intervention for one or more developmental delays. Scenarios defined by increased screening projected up to 55% of the cohort having a developmental concern identified during screening and 45% having a developmental delay identified following assessment.

conclusionSimulation modelling was useful for understanding outcomes from a neurodevelopmental pathway and how differences in screening and assessment affected health service interactions. Findings may inform policy and resource planning for future neurodevelopmental pathways. IMPACT: This study shows that simulation modelling is a useful approach for evaluating a neurodevelopmental care pathway for children with CHD, to understand movement through neurodevelopmental screening, assessment, and interventions. Scenario-based modelling provides insights into factors influencing pathway engagement, contributing evidence to strengthen understanding of service gaps and areas where improvements can most effectively impact engagement and resourcing. This study identifies neurodevelopmental screening as the most influential stage impacting downstream outcomes, underscoring its importance as a strategic intervention point. This study's approach provides a general framework for evaluating similar pathways and a potential baseline for assessing future policy or service changes.

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.