Impoverished children with asthma: a pilot study of urban healthcare access

Andrea Wallace1, Jill Scott, Mary Klinnert

  • 1University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Denver, USA. andrea.wallace@uchsc.edu

Insights

Children with asthma face barriers accessing urban healthcare, including lack of management plans and medication adherence issues. Expanded nursing roles are crucial for improving pediatric asthma care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Healthcare
  • Health Services Research
  • Asthma Management

Background:

  • Asthma is a significant chronic condition in children.
  • Accessing urban healthcare systems presents unique challenges for pediatric patients.
  • Andersen's Behavioral Model provides a framework for understanding healthcare utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the healthcare experiences of children with asthma within an urban setting.
  • To identify barriers and facilitators to accessing care using Andersen's Behavioral Model.
  • To inform strategies for improving pediatric asthma care delivery.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive pilot study utilizing a convenience sample.
  • Data collection involved semistructured interviews with 34 families of pediatric asthma patients.
  • Medical record review was conducted to supplement interview data.

Main Results:

  • A significant lack of written asthma exacerbation management plans was observed.
  • Beliefs about medication addiction and side effects acted as barriers to adherence.
  • Pediatric asthma patients encountered numerous providers in primary care settings.

Conclusions:

  • Family and system-level factors impede effective healthcare access for children with asthma.
  • Expanded nursing roles present a promising avenue to address identified barriers.
  • Prioritizing nursing interventions is essential for enhancing pediatric asthma care.
Abstract

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