Association of experiences of medical home quality with health-related quality of life and school engagement among Latino children in low-income families.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines whether patient-reported indicators of a quality medical home are associated with measures of health among Latino children in low-income families. DATA SOURCES: Data on 3,258 children ages 2-18 years are from a cross-sectional survey of parents of children affiliated with California's Healthy Kids insurance. STUDY
DESIGN: Medical home quality was assessed using the Parents' Perception of Primary Care and was associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) overall and in four domains (physical, emotional, social, and school/daycare) and four measures of school engagement. PRINCIPAL
FINDINGS: A higher total medical home score was associated with a higher total Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory score and scores in four subdomains (total beta [B]=1.77, physical B=1.71, social B=1.36, emotional B=2.22, and school/daycare B=1.69, all p<0.001). It was also associated with missing fewer than three school days due to illness (odds ratio [OR]=1.12, 95 percent confidence intervals [CI]: 1.05, 1.19), excellent/above average school performance overall (OR=1.10, 95 percent CI: 1.03, 1.17) and performance in reading (OR=1.13, 95 percent CI: 1.06, 1.20) and math (OR=1.10, 95 percent CI: 1.03, 1.16).
CONCLUSIONS: Patient-reported medical home quality indicators are favorably associated with HRQOL and measures of school engagement among Latino children in low-income families. © Health Research and Educational Trust.