Li Huang1, Gary L Freed2, Kim Dalziel3. 1. Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne (L Huang, GL Freed and K Dalziel), Melbourne, Australia. 2. Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne (L Huang, GL Freed and K Dalziel), Melbourne, Australia; Division of General Pediatrics, Child Health Evaluation and Research Centre, The University of Michigan (GL Freed), Ann Arbor, Mich. 3. Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne (L Huang, GL Freed and K Dalziel), Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: kim.dalziel@unimelb.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess use and needs for general practitioner, specialist, emergency department, hospital inpatient, and hospital outpatient services for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). To assess the level of CSHCN's needs compared with other children. METHODS: Health service use and needs for children aged 4 to 15 years were assessed using the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children survey with 25,011 observations. Odds ratios of service use and unmet needs for CSHCN compared to other children were estimated. CSHCN were further grouped as those 1) needing only additional medication, 2) needing only additional medical care, or 3) needing both as defined by the CSHCN screener questions. RESULTS: The prevalence of those meeting criteria for CSHCN was 16.1%. In the past 12 months, 77.7% of CSHCN used any general practitioner care and 46.4%, 21.7%, 12.4%, and 15.0%, respectively, used specialty care, emergency department, hospital inpatient, and outpatient services. Approximately half of CSHCN were identified as having special needs due to needing additional medication. Their service use and unmet needs are only slightly elevated. Another group of CSHCN who need both more medication and medical care comprises less than one third of all CSHCN. These children have the highest odds of using specialty care (odds ratio 12.3, P < .001), and of having unmet specialty care need (odds ratio 7.4, P < .001) compared to children without special needs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of ensuring specialty care for CSHCN, especially the one third with most elevated needs. This estimate might guide future care planning.
OBJECTIVE: To assess use and needs for general practitioner, specialist, emergency department, hospital inpatient, and hospital outpatient services for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). To assess the level of CSHCN's needs compared with other children. METHODS: Health service use and needs for children aged 4 to 15 years were assessed using the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children survey with 25,011 observations. Odds ratios of service use and unmet needs for CSHCN compared to other children were estimated. CSHCN were further grouped as those 1) needing only additional medication, 2) needing only additional medical care, or 3) needing both as defined by the CSHCN screener questions. RESULTS: The prevalence of those meeting criteria for CSHCN was 16.1%. In the past 12 months, 77.7% of CSHCN used any general practitioner care and 46.4%, 21.7%, 12.4%, and 15.0%, respectively, used specialty care, emergency department, hospital inpatient, and outpatient services. Approximately half of CSHCN were identified as having special needs due to needing additional medication. Their service use and unmet needs are only slightly elevated. Another group of CSHCN who need both more medication and medical care comprises less than one third of all CSHCN. These children have the highest odds of using specialty care (odds ratio 12.3, P < .001), and of having unmet specialty care need (odds ratio 7.4, P < .001) compared to children without special needs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of ensuring specialty care for CSHCN, especially the one third with most elevated needs. This estimate might guide future care planning.
Authors: Shuliweeh Alenezi; Mohamad-Hani Temsah; Ahmed S Alyahya; Ahmad H Almadani; Afnan Almarshedi; Maha S Algazlan; Faisal Alnemary; Fahad A Bashiri; Samah Hazem Alkhawashki; Maram Hani Altuwariqi; Rafif Alsedrani; Aqeel Alkhiri; Mohammed Alarabi Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-09-27
Authors: Maria Denise Schimith; Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz; Daiani Modernel Xavier; Letícia Silveira Cardoso Journal: Rev Lat Am Enfermagem Date: 2021-07-02