Barriers to healthcare access in pediatric dermatology: A systematic review

Jeffrey Toy1, Allison Gregory2, Wingfield Rehmus2,3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Pediatric Dermatology
|August 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Barriers to pediatric dermatology healthcare access are understudied. Research identified systemic, sociocultural, and individual barriers, highlighting a need for further investigation into pediatric skin care access.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Health Services Research
  • Healthcare Access

Background:

  • Healthcare access barriers are recognized inequities across medical fields.
  • Pediatric dermatology lacks specific research on healthcare access barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review existing literature on healthcare access barriers in pediatric dermatology.
  • To identify and categorize the types of barriers reported in pediatric dermatology research.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review methodology was employed.
  • Literature was searched for studies on healthcare access barriers in pediatric dermatology.
  • Extracted information was categorized into systemic, sociocultural, and individual barriers.

Main Results:

  • Systemic barriers identified include finances, wait times, and geography.
  • Sociocultural barriers encompass cultural beliefs and communication challenges.
  • Individual barriers relate to patient beliefs and health knowledge.

Conclusions:

  • The current body of research on healthcare access barriers in pediatric dermatology is limited.
  • Further research is essential to fully understand these barriers and develop effective interventions for pediatric dermatologic care.

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
39
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
44
Barriers to Effective Communication II01:21

Barriers to Effective Communication II

The barriers to effective communication also include cultural barriers, semantic barriers, gender barriers, and time constraints.
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
4.2K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
57
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
47
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
57