OBJECTIVE: To examine childhood immunization levels relative to the number of family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses in Ontario. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative analysis of publicly available data on immunization coverage levels and the relative number of family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses. SETTING: Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: Seven-year-old children, family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses in Ontario. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The association between immunization coverage levels and the relative number of family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses. RESULTS: We found correlations between immunization coverage levels and the relative number (ie, per 1000 Ontario residents) of family physicians (rho = 0.60) and pediatricians (rho = 0.70) and a lower correlation with the relative number of public health nurses (rho = 0.40), although none of these correlations was significant. A comparison of temporal trends illustrated that variation in the relative number of family physicians and pediatricians in Ontario was associated with similar variation in immunization coverage levels. CONCLUSION: Increasing the number of family physicians and pediatricians might help to boost access to immunizations and perhaps other components of cost-saving childhood preventive care.
OBJECTIVE: To examine childhood immunization levels relative to the number of family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses in Ontario. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative analysis of publicly available data on immunization coverage levels and the relative number of family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses. SETTING: Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: Seven-year-old children, family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses in Ontario. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The association between immunization coverage levels and the relative number of family physicians, pediatricians, and public health nurses. RESULTS: We found correlations between immunization coverage levels and the relative number (ie, per 1000 Ontario residents) of family physicians (rho = 0.60) and pediatricians (rho = 0.70) and a lower correlation with the relative number of public health nurses (rho = 0.40), although none of these correlations was significant. A comparison of temporal trends illustrated that variation in the relative number of family physicians and pediatricians in Ontario was associated with similar variation in immunization coverage levels. CONCLUSION: Increasing the number of family physicians and pediatricians might help to boost access to immunizations and perhaps other components of cost-saving childhood preventive care.
Authors: Michael A Schillaci; Howard Waitzkin; E Ann Carson; Cynthia M Lopez; Deborah A Boehm; Leslie A Lopez; Sheila F Mahoney Journal: Ann Fam Med Date: 2004 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 5.166
Authors: Patrick J Roohan; Jacqueline M Butch; Joseph P Anarella; Foster Gesten; Kathleen Shure Journal: Am J Med Qual Date: 2006 May-Jun Impact factor: 1.852
Authors: Gordon H Guyatt; Pj Devereaux; Joel Lexchin; Samuel B Stone; Armine Yalnizyan; David Himmelstein; Steffie Woolhandler; Qi Zhou; Laurie J Goldsmith; Deborah J Cook; Ted Haines; Christina Lacchetti; John N Lavis; Terrence Sullivan; Ed Mills; Shelley Kraus; Neera Bhatnagar Journal: Open Med Date: 2007-04-14