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Health care utilization by children with asthma
Hyoshin Kim1, Gail M Kieckhefer, April A Greek
1Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, 1100 Dexter Ave N, Ste 400, Seattle, WA 98109-3598, USA. kimh@battelle.org
Insights
Children from minority and low-socioeconomic backgrounds with asthma utilize more urgent care and less preventive health services. Health insurance coverage impacts overall health service use in pediatric asthma patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Health Services Research
- Asthma Management
Background:
- Disparities in healthcare access and utilization persist among children with asthma.
- Factors like race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and insurance influence health service use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and insurance coverage on pediatric asthma health service utilization.
- To identify patterns of care that may contribute to health inequities.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data (1996-2000) for 982 children with asthma.
- Calculation of descriptive statistics, odds ratios, and incidence rate ratios to compare service utilization.
Main Results:
- Non-Hispanic Black children accessed more urgent care and less preventive care.
- Low-income children showed reduced prescription fills and general checkups.
- Higher maternal education correlated with more checkups and fewer emergency visits.
- Insured children utilized more asthma-related health services, excluding emergency department visits.
Conclusions:
- Minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged children with asthma receive less preventive and more urgent care.
- Lack of health insurance is linked to lower overall health service utilization.
- Further research is needed to understand factors influencing effective asthma management in children.
Introduction:
We examined how differences in health service utilization among children with asthma are associated with race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (family income, mother's education), and health insurance coverage.
Methods:
We analyzed Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 1996 through 2000 (982 children younger than 18 years with asthma). We calculated percentages and mean distributions, odds ratios, and incidence rate ratios.
Results:
Non-Hispanic black children used more urgent care services and fewer preventive health services. Children in low-income families (125%-199% of the poverty line) 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 during the 2-year study period used more health services for asthma, not including emergency department visits.
Conclusion:
Minority children and children of socioeconomically disadvantaged families use more urgent care and less preventive care for asthma. Children without health insurance use fewer health services overall. Future research should address how related factors might explain health services utilization in effectively managing asthma in children.
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