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Pediatric hospitalization due to ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in Valencia (Spain)
C Casanova1, C Colomer, B Starfield
1Department of Pediatrics, Sagunto General Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
Insights
Young female children face higher risks of hospitalization for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. Factors like socioeconomic status or primary care access did not significantly influence these pediatric hospitalizations in Spain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- US studies link primary care-sensitive hospitalizations to socioeconomic factors.
- Spanish universal healthcare system context differs from US.
- Need to identify pediatric hospitalization risk factors in Spain.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify sociodemographic factors associated with pediatric hospitalization for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in Spain.
- Examine primary care factors influencing these hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of 504 hospitalized children in Valencia, Spain.
- Data collected on sociodemographics, primary care physician type, and prior ambulatory care use.
- Bivariate and logistic regression analyses performed.
Main Results:
- Children under 2 years old and females showed significantly higher risk.
- No association found between socioeconomic variables and hospitalization risk.
- Type of physician or prior primary care visits did not alter hospitalization risk.
Conclusions:
- Factors beyond access or provider type influence preventable hospitalizations.
- Age and sex are key risk indicators for pediatric ambulatory care-sensitive hospitalizations.
- Refined condition classification may better identify health system-related factors.
Background:
Studies in the United States have demonstrated that rates of hospitalization for conditions sensitive to primary care are related to socioeconomic factors. Our objective was to identify those sociodemographic and primary care factors associated with pediatric hospitalization for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, in a country (Spain) with a health system that provides universal coverage.
Methods:
Cross-sectional survey of 504 children hospitalized in a District General Hospital in Valencia, Spain. Data were gathered on sociodemographic variables, type of physician providing primary care and ambulatory care use prior to hospitalization. Analysis consisted of bivariate statistical tests and logistic regression techniques.
Results:
Children who were under 2 years old and female were at significantly higher risk for hospitalization due to ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. Socioeconomic variables, type of physician or a previous visit to primary care services were not associated with a different risk of hospitalization due to these conditions.
Conclusion:
Characteristics unrelated to difficulties in access, or to type of provider, influence the risk of hospital admissions for conditions that could be prevented or managed without hospitalization. More specific classification of conditions potentially could be useful for determining which factors of structure or process of health services are related to hospitalization.
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