Health Care Utilization by Children With Asthma
Author Information
Author(s): Kim Hyoshin, Kieckhefer Gail M., Joesch Jutta M., Greek April A., Baydar Nazli
Primary Institution: Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation
Hypothesis
Differences in health service utilization among children with asthma are associated with race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health insurance coverage.
Conclusion
Minority children and children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families use more urgent care and less preventive care for asthma.
Supporting Evidence
- Non-Hispanic black children used more urgent care services and fewer preventive health services.
- Children in low-income families had the lowest levels of prescription fills and general checkups.
- Children whose mothers had more education had more checkups and fewer emergency department visits.
- Children who were insured used more health services for asthma.
Takeaway
Kids with asthma who are from minority or low-income families go to the emergency room more often and see the doctor less for checkups.
Methodology
Analyzed Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 1996 to 2000, focusing on health service utilization among children with asthma.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported data from caregivers.
Limitations
The study may not generalize to all children or those without health insurance due to limited sample sizes in previous studies.
Participant Demographics
Children younger than 18 years with asthma, including various racial/ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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