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When parents are given greater access to health information, does it affect pediatric utilization?
1VA HSR&D Health Economics Resource Center, Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research, and Center for Health Policy, Stanford University, CA, USA. twagner@stanford.edu
Medical Care
|July 27, 2001
Summary
Providing free self-care resources, like books and online information, was linked to fewer pediatric doctor visits. This study explored consumer health information
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Consumer Health Informatics
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Most studies on consumer health information and medical utilization focus on the chronically ill.
- This research examines a natural experiment involving a community-wide self-care resource initiative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of the Healthwise Communities Project on reported pediatric healthcare utilization.
- To assess how free self-care resources affect physician visit rates for children.
Main Methods:
- A natural experiment design using random household surveys before and after the intervention.
- Data collected from 1,812 parents with children under 18 in Boise, Idaho, and control communities.
- Pediatric physician visits were measured using a categorical scale transformed into a continuous variable.
Main Results:
- The intervention showed a statistically significant decrease in reported pediatric utilization rates, ranging from -0.72 to -0.66 visits (P ≈ 0.05).
- Further analysis of 423 families followed over time indicated a smaller, non-significant decrease of -0.19 visits.
Conclusions:
- Increased access to self-care resources (books, nurse advice, internet info) correlates with reduced pediatric healthcare utilization.
- The statistical significance of these findings was model-dependent, highlighting the need for further research.
- Understanding the costs associated with providing consumer health information is crucial.
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