Health-service use by children with asthma over a 6-month period

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dc.contributor.authorSpurrier, N.
dc.contributor.authorStaugas, R.
dc.contributor.authorSawyer, M.
dc.contributor.authorWakefield, M.
dc.contributor.authorRuffin, R.
dc.contributor.authorJureidini, J.
dc.contributor.authorArney, F.
dc.contributor.authorBaghurst, P.
dc.date.issued2003
dc.descriptionThe definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVES: The present study aims to describe the use of health services by children with asthma, and examine disease-specific, parental and sociodemographic variables associated with different levels of health-service utilization. METHODS: Parents of 135 children attending an emergency room (ER) completed questionnaires measuring the children's asthma symptoms, and sociodemographic and psychological variables. Parents were contacted monthly for 6 months to document the number of planned and unplanned visits to hospital and community health-care services for asthma. RESULTS: At least one further unplanned visit to the ER was made by 37% of children, while 62% made at least one unplanned visit to a general practitioner (GP). Fifty-five per cent made planned review visits to a GP, 30% to paediatricians and 5% to hospital clinics. After controlling for the level of asthma symptoms, parental anxiety and parental perceptions of children's vulnerability were associated with unplanned GP visits (P = 0.05 and P = 0.01, respectively); a planned review visit and the child being admitted to hospital for the index attack were associated with unplanned ER visits (P = 0.05 and P = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Children with asthma more frequently attend GP services than hospital services for both planned and unplanned asthma management. Different variables predict the unplanned use of GP and ER services. Understanding these differences is imperative if children and families are to make the most effective use of health services.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityN.J. Spurrier, R. Staugas, M.G. Sawyer, M.A. Wakefield, R.E. Ruffin, J. Jureidini, F. Arney and P. Baghurst
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2003; 39(1):15-21
dc.identifier.doi10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00064.x
dc.identifier.issn1034-4810
dc.identifier.issn1440-1754
dc.identifier.orcidSawyer, M. [0000-0002-7834-0561]
dc.identifier.orcidJureidini, J. [0000-0001-7585-2660]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/9933
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Asia
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00064.x
dc.subjectasthma
dc.subjecthealth-care utilization
dc.titleHealth-service use by children with asthma over a 6-month period
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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