Family perceptions of the usual source of care among children with asthma by race/ethnicity, language, and family income

J Asthma. 2006 Jan-Feb;43(1):61-9. doi: 10.1080/02770900500448639.

Abstract

A usual source of care (USC) can serve as the foundation for good primary health care and is critical for children living with a chronic health condition. This study applies national data to the following objectives: (1) describe family reports of the presence and characteristics of the USC for children with asthma; (2) examine evidence of systematic differences in the USC for these children with asthma by race/ethnicity, English language proficiency in Hispanic respondents, and family income; and (3) conduct multivariate analysis adjusting for possible confounding factors to examine independent effects of race/ethnicity, language, and income. Data from the 1996-2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were analyzed. Overall, 95% of children with asthma had a USC, with Spanish-speaking Hispanics least likely to report a USC (89%). There were significant differences in USC attributes by race/ethnicity, language, and income, with the largest differences by type of provider and accessibility. Hispanics with poor English language proficiency had the greatest accessibility barriers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Asthma / ethnology
  • Asthma / therapy*
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic
  • Continuity of Patient Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Family / ethnology
  • Family / psychology*
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Status
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Income*
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Insurance, Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Language*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Patient Satisfaction / ethnology
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data
  • United States
  • White People / statistics & numerical data