Factors Associated With Clinician Self-Reported Resource Use in Acute Care and Ambulatory Pediatrics

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Decision-Making

Background:

• Resource utilization for pediatric respiratory illnesses varies significantly.
• Understanding provider-specific factors is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.
• Common respiratory infections in children represent a substantial healthcare burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of healthcare resource use among pediatric providers treating common respiratory illnesses.
• To compare resource utilization across different provider types and practice settings.
• To explore the influence of decision-making behaviors on resource use in pediatric respiratory care.

Main Methods:

• A survey study was conducted with pediatric providers in primary care, emergency/urgent care, and hospital medicine.
• Clinical vignettes assessed resource use for upper respiratory infections, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia.
• Multivariate analysis examined the association of provider type, practice location, and decision-making behaviors with resource use.

Main Results:

• Emergency/urgent care and primary care providers demonstrated higher resource use compared to inpatient providers.
• Advanced practice providers (APPs) showed higher resource use than physicians.
• Practice location (ED/UC), provider type (APP), and concern for adverse outcomes predicted higher resource use.

Conclusions:

• Provider type and practice setting are significant predictors of resource utilization for pediatric respiratory conditions.
• Targeted interventions for test-maximizing providers can enhance care quality and reduce healthcare costs.
• Future research should focus on developing strategies to standardize resource use and improve efficiency in pediatric respiratory care.