Treatment Regimens and Health Care Utilization in Children with Persistent Asthma Symptoms

This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory medication regimens in children with persistent asthma, determined their health care utilization patterns, and evaluated factors associated with failure to seek and/or receive appropriate treatment. Parents of 68% of children who qualified for anti-inflammatory medications by National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines reported their use. However, only 14% received an optimal regimen (mild intermittent symptoms), while 55% were still symptomatic despite reported medications (suboptimal regimen). Nearly half of symptomatic children did not have a health care visit; of those who did, 61% had no corrective action documented. Factors contributing to variations in regimen and utilization are discussed.     

Treatment Regimens and Health Care Utilization in Children with Persistent Asthma Symptoms

This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory medication regimens in children with persistent asthma, determined their health care utilization patterns, and evaluated factors associated with failure to seek and/or receive appropriate treatment. Parents of 68% of children who qualified for anti-inflammatory medications by National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines reported their use. However, only 14% received an optimal regimen (mild intermittent symptoms), while 55% were still symptomatic despite reported medications (suboptimal regimen). Nearly half of symptomatic children did not have a health care visit; of those who did, 61% had no corrective action documented. Factors contributing to variations in regimen and utilization are discussed.     

Gender Differences in Health Care Utilization Among Veterans with Chronic Pain

Background Previous research reports that 48% of veterans regularly experience and express concern over pain. Outpatient service use is higher for veterans with pain than for veterans without pain. Our study objective was to identify differences in outpatient utilization between men and women veterans with chronic pain. Methods We identified all men and women veterans at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in fiscal year (FY) 2002 between the ages of 21 and 60 that had two visits for the same pain location at least 6 weeks apart as determined by ICD-9 coding. Men and women were age-matched at a 2:1 ratio. We then compared the number of outpatient visits between genders in FY 2003. Results We identified 406 female and 812 male veterans. The mean number of clinic visits for women was 25.2 (SD 30.2) and for men 17.6 (SD 24.1). After adjusting for multiple pain sites, psychiatric diagnoses, age, and comorbidities, women veterans had a 27% higher rate of outpatient visits than men (incidence rate ratio [RR] 1.27, 95% confidence [CI] 1.15 to 1.41). Specifically, women had higher rates of visits to primary care (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.50), physical therapy (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.33), and other clinics (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.44), and had a higher rate of visits to address pain (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.30) than men. Conclusions This is the first study to examine gender differences in chronic pain and utilization in the veteran population. Women veterans with chronic pain may need more resources to adequately manage chronic pain conditions as well as associated comorbidities and psychiatric disease. Portions of this research were presented at the annual Society of General Internal Medicine conference, May, 2005, as well as the Women’s Health Congress, June, 2005.     

Health Care Utilization and Costs Associated with Childhood Abuse

Background Physical and sexual childhood abuse is associated with poor health across the lifespan. However, the association between these types of abuse and actual health care use and costs over the long run has not been documented. Objective To examine long-term health care utilization and costs associated with physical, sexual, or both physical and sexual childhood abuse. Design Retrospective cohort. Participants Three thousand three hundred thirty-three women (mean age, 47 years) randomly selected from the membership files of a large integrated health care delivery system. Measurements Automated annual health care utilization and costs were assembled over an average of 7.4 years for women with physical only, sexual only, or both physical and sexual childhood abuse (as reported in a telephone survey), and for women without these abuse histories (reference group). Results Significantly higher annual health care use and costs were observed for women with a child abuse history compared to women without comparable abuse histories. The most pronounced use and costs were observed for women with a history of both physical and sexual child abuse. Women with both abuse types had higher annual mental health (relative risk [RR] = 2.07; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.67–2.57); emergency department (RR = 1.86; 95%CI = 1.47–2.35); hospital outpatient (RR = 1.35 = 95%CI = 1.10–1.65); pharmacy (incident rate ratio [IRR] = 1.57; 95%CI = 1.33–1.86); primary care (IRR = 1.41; 95%CI = 1.28–1.56); and specialty care use (IRR = 1.32; 95%CI = 1.13–1.54). Total adjusted annual health care costs were 36% higher for women with both abuse types, 22% higher for women with physical abuse only, and 16% higher for women with sexual abuse only. Conclusions Child abuse is associated with long-term elevated health care use and costs, particularly for women who suffer both physical and sexual abuse.     

The Impact of Managed Care on Health Care Utilization Among Adults with Asthma

Study Objectives. To compare kinds and amounts of health care used by adults with asthma in managed care and fee-for-service settings. Design. Cross-sectional structured telephone survey of Northern California adults with asthma from random samples of pulmonologists, allergist-immunologists, family practitioners, and from a random sample of the non-institutionalized population. Measurements. Validated measures of kind of health insurance plans, kinds and amounts of services used for asthma and other reasons, demographic characteristics, severity of asthma, comorbidity, and overall health and functional status. Results. Eighty one percent of the 416 adults with asthma studied were in some form of managed care (75% in HMOs and 6% in PPOs). Those in managed care (MC) and fee-for-service (FFS) did not differ substantively in the proportion with a regular source or principal provider of asthma care, with a peak flow meter or action plan, having received instructions in the use of an inhaler, reporting current use of inhaled beta-agonists, home nebulized beta-agonists, or inhaled steroids, or reporting ER visits or flu shots in the year prior to interview. Persons with asthma in MC reported significantly fewer total physician visits (after adjustment, 4.3 MC, 7.1 FFS, difference = 2.8, 95% CI - 5.4, - 0.1), principally because those in MC had many fewer visits to allergist-immunologists (after adjustment 4.9 MC, 21.4 FFS, difference = - 16.5, 95% CI - 27.8-5.3). The two groups did not differ significantly in the proportion with asthma-related or non asthma hospital admissions. Conclusions. Persons with asthma in fee-for-service settings reported a greater number of certain kinds of ambulatory visits, particularly visits to allergist-immunologists, for their asthma than those in managed care, but did not differ in the use of the hospital for their asthma and in non asthma care.     

The Impact of Managed Care on Health Care Utilization Among Adults with Asthma

Study Objectives. To compare kinds and amounts of health care used by adults with asthma in managed care and fee‐for‐service settings. Design. Cross‐sectional structured telephone survey of Northern California adults with asthma from random samples of pulmonologists, allergist‐immunologists, family practitioners, and from a random sample of the non‐institutionalized population. Measurements. Validated measures of kind of health insurance plans, kinds and amounts of services used for asthma and other reasons, demographic characteristics, severity of asthma, comorbidity, and overall health and functional status. Results. Eighty one percent of the 416 adults with asthma studied were in some form of managed care (75% in HMOs and 6% in PPOs). Those in managed care (MC) and fee‐for‐service (FFS) did not differ substantively in the proportion with a regular source or principal provider of asthma care, with a peak flow meter or action plan, having received instructions in the use of an inhaler, reporting current use of inhaled beta‐agonists, home nebulized beta‐agonists, or inhaled steroids, or reporting ER visits or flu shots in the year prior to interview. Persons with asthma in MC reported significantly fewer total physician visits (after adjustment, 4.3 MC, 7.1 FFS, difference = 2.8, 95% CI ? 5.4, ? 0.1), principally because those in MC had many fewer visits to allergist‐immunologists (after adjustment 4.9 MC, 21.4 FFS, difference = ? 16.5, 95% CI ? 27.8–5.3). The two groups did not differ significantly in the proportion with asthma‐related or non asthma hospital admissions. Conclusions. Persons with asthma in fee‐for‐service settings reported a greater number of certain kinds of ambulatory visits, particularly visits to allergist‐immunologists, for their asthma than those in managed care, but did not differ in the use of the hospital for their asthma and in non asthma care.     

Improvement in Health Care Utilization and Pulmonary Function with Fluticasone Propionate in Patients with Steroid-Dependent Asthma at a National Asthma Referral Center

The impact of switching from other inhaled corticosteroids to fluticasone propionate was studied in patients with severe oral-steroid-dependent asthma over a 1-year period. In this open-label prospective study, patients on maintenance doses of oral and inhaled steroids were referred to a national asthma treatment center and were switched from their previous inhaled corticosteroid to fluticasone propionate 880 μg BID. Compared with data collected from the year prior to enrollment, treatment with fluticasone propionate resulted in significant improvements in pulmonary function, oral steroid requirements, and health resource utilization. In addition, five patients were completely weaned off oral steroids.     

慢性心力衰竭高尿酸血症和痛风的处理

痛风是由于尿酸结晶沉积在关节引起炎症、疼痛,甚至造成患者活动障碍的一组临床综合征。慢性心力衰竭患者经常伴随高尿酸血症,在这些患者中,痛风的处理是一个特殊的问题。由于心力衰竭患者对容量状态敏感和经常伴有慢性肾功能不全, 因而其痛风的治疗限制了非甾体类抗炎药和皮质类固醇激素的应用;同时,治疗高尿酸血症和痛风的药物与治疗心力衰竭的药物也存在相互影响。因此,现就慢性心力衰竭患者中高尿酸血症和痛风的处理作一综述。     

Impact of Home Health Care on Health Care Resource Utilization Following Hospital Discharge: A Cohort Study

Background

As healthcare costs rise, home health care represents an opportunity to reduce preventable adverse events and costs following hospital discharge. No studies have investigated the utility of home health care within the context of a large and diverse patient population.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the VA Health Care System: A Systematic Review

Objectives To better understand the causes of racial disparities in health care, we reviewed and synthesized existing evidence related to disparities in the “equal access” Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Methods We systematically reviewed and synthesized evidence from studies comparing health care utilization and quality by race within the VA. Results Racial disparities in the VA exist across a wide range of clinical areas and service types. Disparities appear most prevalent for medication adherence and surgery and other invasive procedures, processes that are likely to be affected by the quantity and quality of patient–provider communication, shared decision making, and patient participation. Studies indicate a variety of likely root causes of disparities including: racial differences in patients’ medical knowledge and information sources, trust and skepticism, levels of participation in health care interactions and decisions, and social support and resources; clinician judgment/bias; the racial/cultural milieu of health care settings; and differences in the quality of care at facilities attended by different racial groups. Conclusions Existing evidence from the VA indicates several promising targets for interventions to reduce racial disparities in the quality of health care.     

Using Complexity Theory to Build Interventions that Improve Health Care Delivery in Primary Care

Previous observational research confirms abundant variation in primary care practice. While variation is sometimes viewed as problematic, its presence may also be highly informative in uncovering ways to enhance health care delivery when it represents unique adaptations to the values and needs of people within the practice and interactions with the local community and health care system. We describe a theoretical perspective for use in developing interventions to improve care that acknowledges the uniqueness of primary care practices and encourages flexibility in the form of intervention implementation, while maintaining fidelity to its essential functions.     

Interest in Long-Term Care Among Health Services Administration Students

The aging of the population has created increased opportunities for health administrators in long-term care. This study consisted of a cross-sectional survey of 68 undergraduate health services administration students to explore factors related to interest in a career in long-term care administration. One third expressed interest working in the field. Experience in long-term care settings, quality of contact with unrelated older adults, satisfaction working with the elderly, and confidence in the ability to work in the field were positively associated with interest in long-term care administration. The findings have important implications for experiential learning in health administration programs.