Search

Background Underuse of controller medicines among children with asthma remains widespread despite national guidelines. Objectives To (1) assess provider prescribing patterns for asthma controller medications; (2) assess how frequently parents' reports of their child's asthma controller medicine use were mismatched with their provider's recommendations; and (3) evaluate parent attitudes and demographic characteristics associated with these mismatches. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we conducted linked surveys of parents and providers of children with probable persistent asthma in a Medicaid program and 4 commercial health plans in 2011. Probable persistent asthma was defined as a diagnosis of asthma and 1 or more controller medication dispensing. Results This study included 740 children (mean age, 8.6 years). Providers for 50% of the children reported prescribing controller medications for daily year-round use, 41% for daily use during active asthma months, and 9% for intermittent use for relief. Among parents, 72% knew which class of controller medication the provider prescribed and 49% knew the administration frequency and the medication class. Parents were less likely to report the same controller medication type as the provider, irrespective of dose and frequency, if they were Latino (odds ratio [OR], 0.23; CI, 0.057-0.90), had a household smoker (OR, 2.87; CI, 0.42-19.6), or believed the controller medicine was not helping (OR, 0.15; CI, 0.048-0.45). Conclusions Mismatches between parent reports and providers intentions regarding how the child was supposed to use inhaled steroids occurred for half of the children. Efforts should focus on ways to reduce mismatches between parent and provider intentions regarding controller medication use.

Background Based on results of clinical trials, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most-effective controller medications for preventing asthma-related exacerbations, yet few studies in real-life populations have evaluated the comparative effectiveness of ICS. Objective To determine the likelihood of asthma exacerbations among children with asthma after initiation of controller medications: ICS, leukotriene antagonists (LTRA), and ICS–long-acting β-agonist (LABA) combination therapy. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of subjects who were part of the Population-Based Effectiveness in Asthma and Lung Diseases Network. We conducted Cox regression analyses by adjusting for baseline covariates, adherence by using proportion of days covered, and high-dimensional propensity scores. The main outcome measurements were emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or oral corticosteroid use. Results Our population included 15,567 health plan subjects and 10,624 TennCare Medicaid subjects with uncontrolled asthma. Overall adherence to controller medications was low, with no more than 50% of the subjects refilling the medication after the initial fill. For subjects with allergic rhinitis, the subjects in TennCare Medicaid treated with LTRAs were less likely to experience ED visits (hazard ratio 0.44 [95% CI, 0.21-0.93]) compared with the subjects treated with ICS. For all other groups, the subjects treated with LTRA or ICS-LABA were just as likely to experience ED visits or hospitalizations, or need oral corticosteroids as the subjects treated with ICS. Conclusion Risks of asthma-related exacerbations did not differ between children who initiated LTRA and ICS. These findings may be explainable by LTRA, which has similar effectiveness as ICS in real-life usage by residual confounding by indication or other unmeasured factors.

Rationale: Statins, or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, may aid in the treatment of asthma through their pleiotropic antiinflammatory effects. Objectives: To examine the effect of statin therapy on asthma-related exacerbations using a large population-based cohort. Methods: Statin users aged 31 years or greater with asthma were identified from the Population-Based Effectiveness in Asthma and Lung population, which includes data from five health plans. Statin exposure and asthma exacerbations were assessed over a 24-month observation period. Statin users with a statin medication possession ratio greater than or equal to 80% were matched to non–statin users by age, baseline asthma therapy, site of enrollment, season at baseline, and propensity score, which was calculated based on patient demographics and Deyo-Charlson conditions. Asthma exacerbations were defined as two or more oral corticosteroid dispensings, asthma-related emergency department visits, or asthma-related hospitalizations. The association between statin exposure and each of the three outcome measures was assessed using conditional logistic regression. Measurements and Main Results: Of the 14,566 statin users, 8,349 statin users were matched to a nonuser. After adjusting for Deyo-Charlson conditions that remained unbalanced after matching, among statin users, statin exposure was associated with decreased odds of having asthma-related emergency department visits (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53–0.77; P < 0.0001) and two or more oral corticosteroid dispensings (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.81–0.99; P = 0.04). There were no differences in asthma-related hospitalizations (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.66–1.24; P = 0.52). Conclusions: Among statin users with asthma, statin exposure was associated with decreased odds of asthma-related emergency department visits and oral corticosteroid dispensings.

OBJECTIVE. There is concern that high-deductible health plans may have negative effects on vulnerable groups. The objective of this study was to compare the characteristics of families who have children and switch to high-deductible health plans with those who stay in traditional plans.METHODS. This double-cohort study included families who had children aged RESULTS. We identified 839 families who had children and whose employer switched them to high-deductible health plans and 5133 controls. Among families with large employers, the adjusted odds of the employer switching to a high-deductible health plan were higher for families living in high-poverty neighborhoods. Among families with small employers, the adjusted odds of the employer switching to a high-deductible health plan were lower for families with more children, above-average family morbidity, and baseline total expenditures >$7000.CONCLUSIONS. Among families with large employers offering a single health plan, those from low-income neighborhoods are more likely to be switched to high-deductible health plans. In contrast, families with small employers offering a single plan are more likely to be switched to high-deductible health plans if they are healthier and have lower baseline costs. These findings suggest that families with children in high-deductible plans may represent two distinct groups, one with higher-risk characteristics and another with lower-risk characteristics compared with those in traditional plans.

Many children with persistent asthma use inhaled corticosteroids on a periodic basis. Clinical trials in adults suggest that periodic use of inhaled corticosteroids may be effective for patients with mild persistent asthma. However, scant information exists on the clinical outcomes of children with asthma who are using inhaled corticosteroids on a periodic basis in real-world settings.This prospective cohort study compared clinical outcomes during a 12-month follow-up period between children with persistent asthma whose parents believed that they were supposed to use inhaled steroids either (a) periodically or (b) daily year-round at the start of the period. The clinical outcomes studied were (1) asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations, (2) uncontrolled asthma based on health care and medication use, and (3) outpatient visits for asthma.The study population included children with persistent asthma from two health plans whose parents reported that they were using inhaled corticosteroids during a baseline telephone interview. The interviews collected information on whether the children's parents believed they were supposed to use inhaled corticosteroids on a periodic or daily basis, as well as baseline asthma symptom status, sociodemographic, and behavioral variables. We used computerized databases to identify clinical events for each child during the 12 months after their baseline interview. Uncontrolled asthma was defined as any asthma-related ED visit or hospitalization, two or more oral steroid prescription fills, or four or more beta-agonists canisters filled during the 12-month period. We compared these outcomes between the periodic versus daily users of inhaled corticosteroids using logistic regression analyses. We conducted both (1) a traditional logistic regression analysis in which we adjusted for selection bias by including covariates such as age, asthma physical status, sociodemographic and behavioral variables, and history of asthma-related health care use during the year before interview and (2) an analysis using propensity scores to more fully adjust for selection bias.Of a total of 476 children in the study, 55% of parents believed their children were supposed to be using inhaled corticosteroids on a periodic basis and 45% believed their children were supposed to be using them daily year-round based on the baseline parent interview. At baseline, periodic inhaled corticosteroid users had less severe asthma than daily users based on several measures including better asthma physical status scores on the Children's Health Survey for Asthma (mean 87 +/- 16.0 vs. 81 +/- 17.4, p =0.0001). During the year before the baseline interview, periodic users compared with daily users were less likely to have an ED visit or hospitalization (10% vs. 23%, p = 0.0001) and less likely to have had five or more albuterol prescription fills (13% vs. 31%, p0.0001). During the follow-up year, those who believed inhaled steroids were for periodic use were less likely than those who believed inhaled steroids were for daily use to have an ED visit or hospitalization for asthma (OR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.18-0.73), even after adjusting for baseline asthma status and other covariates. Similarly, those who believed inhaled steroids were for periodic use were less likely to have uncontrolled asthma, OR 0.38 (95% CI: 0.24-0.62). Analyses using propensity score adjustment yielded similar results to the logistic regression analyses.Children whose parents believed they were supposed to use inhaled corticosteroids on a periodic basis had less severe asthma at baseline than those whose parents believed they were supposed to be using them daily. Periodic users were less likely than daily users to have adverse asthma outcomes during 1-year follow-up. This suggests that clinicians may be applying appropriate selection criteria by choosing patients with less severe asthma for periodic inhaled corticosteroid regimens.

Objectives To compare screening practices and beliefs in patients with and without a clinically important family history. Design We mailed a brief questionnaire asking about family history and a second, longer survey asking about knowledge of and beliefs about colorectal cancer to all respondents with a family history and a random sample of respondents without a family history of colorectal cancer. We reviewed electronic medical records for screening examinations and recording of family history. Participants One thousand eight hundred seventy of 6,807 randomly selected patients ages 35–55 years who had been continuously enrolled in a large multispecialty group practice for at least 5 years. Measurements Recognition of increased risk, screening practices, and beliefs—all according to strength of family history and patient’s age. Results Nineteen percent of respondents reported a family history of colorectal cancer. In 11%, this history was strong enough to warrant screening before age 50 years. However, only 39% (95% CI 36, 42) of respondents under the age of 50 years said they had been asked about family history and only 45% of those with a strong family history of colorectal cancer had been screened appropriately. Forty-six percent of patients with a strong family history did not know that they should be screened at a younger age than average risk people. Medical records mentioned family history of colorectal cancer in 59% of patients reporting a family history. Conclusions More efforts are needed to translate information about family history of colorectal cancer into the care of patients.

The authors estimated the costs and cost savings of implementing a program of mailed practice guidelines and single-visit individual and group academic detailing interventions in a randomized controlled trial to improve the use of antihypertensive medications. Analyses took the perspective of the payer. The total costs of the mailed guideline, group detailing, and individual detailing interventions were estimated at 1000 dollars, 5500 dollars, and 7200 dollars, respectively, corresponding to changes in the average daily per person drug costs of -0.0558 dollars (95% confidence interval, -0.1365 dollars to 0.0250 dollars) in the individual detailing intervention and -0.0001 dollars (95% confidence interval, -0.0803 dollars to 0.0801 dollars) in the group detailing intervention, compared with the mailed intervention. For all patients with incident hypertension in the individual detailing arm, the annual total drug cost savings were estimated at 21,711 dollars (95% confidence interval, 53,131 dollars savings to 9709 dollars cost increase). Information on costs of academic detailing could assist with health plan decision making in developing interventions to improve prescribing.

To identify a pediatric ventilator-associated condition definition for use in neonates and children by exploring whether potential ventilator-associated condition definitions identify patients with worse outcomes.Retrospective cohort study and a matched cohort analysis.Pediatric, cardiac, and neonatal ICUs in five U.S. hospitals.Children 18 years old or younger ventilated for at least 1 day.None.We evaluated the evidence of worsening oxygenation via a range of thresholds for increases in daily minimum fraction of inspired oxygen (by 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30) and daily minimum mean airway pressure (by 4, 5, 6, and 7 cm H2O). We required worsening oxygenation be sustained for at least 2 days after at least 2 days of stability. We matched patients with a ventilator-associated condition to those without and used Cox proportional hazard models with frailties to examine associations with hospital mortality, hospital and ICU length of stay, and duration of ventilation. The cohort included 8,862 children with 10,209 hospitalizations and 77,751 ventilator days. For the fraction of inspired oxygen 0.25/mean airway pressure 4 definition (i.e., increase in minimum daily fraction of inspired oxygen by 0.25 or mean airway pressure by 4), rates ranged from 2.9 to 3.2 per 1,000 ventilator days depending on ICU type; the fraction of inspired oxygen 0.30/mean airway pressure 7 definition yielded ventilator-associated condition rates of 1.1-1.3 per 1,000 ventilator days. All definitions were significantly associated with greater risk of hospital death, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.6 (95% CI, 0.7-3.4) to 6.8 (2.9-16.0), depending on thresholds and ICU type. Each definition was associated with prolonged hospitalization, time in ICU, and duration of ventilation, among survivors. The advisory board of the study proposed using the fraction of inspired oxygen 0.25/mean airway pressure 4 thresholds to identify pediatric ventilator-associated conditions in ICUs.Pediatric patients with ventilator-associated conditions are at substantially higher risk for mortality and morbidity across ICUs, regardless of thresholds used. Next steps include identification of risk factors, etiologies, and preventative measures for pediatric ventilator-associated conditions.

Author(s): Huang, Susan S; Yokoe, Deborah S; Hinrichsen, Virginia L; Spurchise, Laura S; Datta, Rupak; Miroshnik, Irina; Platt, Richard | Abstract: BackgroundSerial interventions are often used to reduce the risk of health care-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. To our knowledge, the relative impact of these interventions has not previously been ascertained.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 4 major infection control interventions using an interrupted time series design to evaluate their impact on MRSA bacteremia in an 800-bed hospital with 8 intensive care units (ICUs). Interventions were introduced 1 at a time during a 9-year period and involved the promotion of compliance with maximal sterile barrier precautions during central venous catheter placement, the institution of alcohol-based hand rubs for hand disinfection, the introduction of a hand hygiene campaign, and the institution of routine nares surveillance cultures for MRSA in all ICUs for patients on ICU admission and weekly thereafter while in the ICU. Positive cultures resulted in the initiation of contact isolation precautions. Using segmented regression analyses, we evaluated changes in monthly incidence and prevalence of MRSA bacteremia from their predicted values. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia was monitored as a control.ResultsRoutine surveillance cultures and subsequent contact isolation precautions resulted in substantial reductions in MRSA bacteremia in both ICUs and non-ICUs. In 16 months, the incidence density of MRSA bacteremia decreased by 75% in ICUs (P=.007) and by 40% in non-ICUs (P=.008), leading to a 67% hospital-wide reduction in the incidence density of MRSA bacteremia (P=.002). Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus bacteremia rates remained stable during this time. The other interventions were not associated with a statistically significant change in MRSA bacteremia.ConclusionsRoutine surveillance for MRSA in ICUs allowed earlier initiation of contact isolation precautions and was associated with large and statistically significant reductions in the incidence of MRSA bacteremia in the ICUs and hospital wide. In contrast, no similar decrease was attributable to the other infection control interventions.

Background The Cancer Research Network (CRN) comprises the National Cancer Institute and 11 nonprofit research centers affiliated with integrated health care delivery systems. The CRN, a public/private partnership, fosters multisite collaborative research on cancer prevention, screening, treatment, survival, and palliation in diverse populations. Methods The CRN's success hinges on producing innovative cancer research that likely would not have been developed by scientists working individually, and then translating those findings into clinical practice within multiple population laboratories. The CRN is a collaborative virtual research organization characterized by user-defined sharing among scientists and health care providers of data files as well as direct access to researchers, computers, software, data, research participants, and other resources. The CRN's research management Web site fosters a high-functioning virtual scientific community by publishing standardized data definitions, file specifications, and computer programs to support merging and analyzing data from multiple health care systems. Results Seven major types of standardized data files developed to date include demographics, health plan eligibility, tumor registry, inpatient and ambulatory utilization, medication dispensing, laboratory tests, and imaging procedures; more will follow. Data standardization avoids rework, increases multisite data integrity, increases data security, generates shorter times from initial proposal concept to submission, and stimulates more frequent collaborations among scientists across multiple institutions. Conclusions The CRN research management Web site and associated standardized data files and procedures represent a quasi-public resource, and the CRN stands ready to collaborate with researchers from outside institutions in developing and conducting innovative public domain research.

Background. Recent national statistics indicate that, despite increases in the proportion of mothers who initiate breastfeeding, the proportion that continue to breastfeed their infants through 6 months of age remains below the Healthy People 2010 goal of 50%. National professional organizations recommend that clinicians routinely counsel mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding. Little is known, however, about the counseling provided during these visits and how mothers and their clinicians perceive breastfeeding counseling. Objectives. We sought to describe mothers' and clinicians' perspectives on breastfeeding counseling during routine preventive visits and identify potential gaps in communication about breastfeeding and management practices. Methods. We conducted a prospective cohort study of low-risk mother-newborn pairs and their clinicians in a large multispecialty group practice. The participating mothers completed telephone interviews at 4 and 12 weeks postpartum, and their data were linked with their obstetric and pediatric clinicians' responses to a cross-sectional mailed survey conducted during the same time period. Overall, response rates were 63% for mothers (n = 429) and 82% for clinicians (obstetric clinicians: n = 54; pediatric clinicians: n = 67). Results. Of the 429 low-risk mother-newborn pairs in the study, 61% were white, 16% were black, 10% were Hispanic, and 8% were Asian, with a mean (SD) age of 32.7 (5.1) years. At 4 weeks postpartum, 319 mothers (74%) were either exclusively or mixed breastfeeding. According to the interviews, few mothers discussed breastfeeding duration with their obstetric clinicians during their prenatal visits (15%) or with their pediatric clinicians during their infants' 2-week preventive visit (24%). Among 164 mothers whose obstetric providers said they usually or always discuss breastfeeding duration during prenatal visits, only 26 (16%) of the mothers reported that the topic was discussed with them (22% agreement; κ = −.004). Among those mothers whose pediatric clinicians said they usually or always discuss breastfeeding duration during the 2-week preventive visit, only 25% of the mothers reported that the topic was discussed (32% agreement; κ = .05). Many of the mothers had either returned to work by 12 weeks (29%) or planned to return to work within the next few months (43%). Although nearly all the obstetric (91%) and pediatric (97%) clinicians reported that they usually or always discuss whether a mother plans to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, only approximately half (55%) of the mothers seen by the clinicians reported that the topic was discussed. Overall, few mothers reported discussing with their clinicians specific ways to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. Conclusion. Mothers' reports of breastfeeding advice given during routine preventive visits identified several areas in which unintentional communication gaps may occur, including specifics about breastfeeding duration and methods of breastfeeding after returning to work. Developing approaches to enhance communication with mothers during routine preventive visits could improve the support of breastfeeding.

Background. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. Recent statistics indicate that initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding are low in the United States. Unfortunately, little information is available on how clinicians and health care organizations can best promote continuation of exclusive breastfeeding.Objective. To identify clinicians’ opinions and management practices that are associated with continuation of exclusive breastfeeding.Methods. We conducted a prospective cohort study of low-risk mother-newborn pairs in a large, multispecialty group practice in which the mother was breastfeeding at 4 weeks. Mothers completed telephone interviews at 4 and 12 weeks postpartum, and their data were linked with their obstetric and pediatric clinicians’ responses to a cross-sectional mailed survey conducted during the same time period. Obstetric and pediatric clinicians included medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives. Overall response rates were 63% for mothers and 82% for clinicians (54 obstetric and 67 pediatric clinicians). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the characteristics of clinicians and mothers that predicted exclusive breastfeeding at 12 weeks.Results. Of the 288 mothers who were breastfeeding at 4 weeks and had a complete 12-week interview, 152 (53%) were exclusively breastfeeding their infants at 12 weeks. Mothers who discontinued exclusive breastfeeding were more likely to have experienced problems with their infant latching on or sucking (odds ratio [OR]: 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5–9.7) or report that a health care provider recommended formula supplementation (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1–5.0).Clinicians reported limited time during preventive visits to address breastfeeding problems as a very important barrier to promoting breastfeeding. Obstetric providers were least confident in resolving problems with mothers not producing enough breast milk. Pediatric providers were least confident in resolving problems with breast pain or tenderness or cracked or painful nipples.In the final multivariate model, mothers whose pediatric providers recommended formula supplementation if an infant was not gaining enough weight (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.04, 9.7) or who considered their advice to mothers on breastfeeding duration to be not very important (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2–3.9) were more likely to have discontinued exclusive breastfeeding by 12 weeks postpartum. Black mothers were significantly more likely to discontinue exclusive breastfeeding by 12 weeks.Conclusions. Clinicians’ practices regarding formula supplementation of healthy infants and their opinions about the importance of their breastfeeding advice are associated with the likelihood that mothers will continue exclusive breastfeeding. Policies to enhance clinicians’ abilities to address breastfeeding problems within the constraints of busy practices could improve their ability to support exclusive breastfeeding.

Rationale: Few previous studies have evaluated primary adherence (whether a new prescription is filled within 30 d) to controller medications in individuals with persistent asthma. Objective: To compare adherence to the major controller medication regimens for asthma. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of enrollees from five large health plans. We used electronic medical data on patients of all ages with asthma who had experienced an asthma-related exacerbation in the prior 12 months. We studied adherence measures including proportion of days covered and primary adherence (first prescription filled within 30 d). Measurements and Main Results: Our population included 69,652 subjects who had probable persistent asthma and were prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), leukotriene antagonists (LTRAs), or ICS/long-acting β-agonists (ICS/LABAs). The mean age was 37 years and 58% were female. We found that 14–20% of subjects who were prescribed controller medicines for the first time did not fill their prescriptions. The mean proportion of days covered was 19% for ICS, 30% for LTRA, and 25% for ICS/LABA over 12 months. Using multivariate logistic regression, subjects prescribed LTRA were less likely to be primary adherent than subjects prescribed ICS (odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.92) or ICS/LABA (odds ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.97). Black and Latino patients were less likely to fill the prescription compared with white patients. Conclusions: Adherence to controller medications for asthma is poor. In this insured population, primary adherence to ICSs was better than to LTRAs and ICS/LABAs. Adherence as measured by proportion of days covered was better for LTRAs and ICS/LABAs than for ICSs.

Objectives.—To 1) describe barriers to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine adoption and 2) estimate the value of the vaccine based on pediatricians' responses to willingness-to-pay questions. Methods.—In June 2000, we mailed a random sample of pediatricians in Massachusetts a questionnaire about barriers to adoption of the vaccine and willingness to pay for the vaccine and associated outcomes. Respondents were assigned at random to 1 of 2 survey versions: the Personal Perspective version, for which they imagined spending their own money for their own child, or the Public Perspective version, for which they imagined spending the government's money for the average child. Results.—Of the 546 pediatricians who responded (estimated completion rate, 80%), only 9% were using the vaccine routinely at the time of the survey. Most said that if the state did not provide the vaccine, financial barriers including inadequate insurance reimbursement would limit their use of the vaccine either a great deal (61%) or a moderate amount (25%). Pediatricians who were asked how much they would pay for the vaccine for their own child (personal perspective) gave a mean of $56 per dose, whereas those who were asked how much the government should pay on behalf of an average child (public perspective) gave a mean of $36 per dose. Alternatively, when we used a decision analysis model and incorporated pediatricians' values for preventing pneumococcal infections to estimate the vaccine's value, the value per dose was $38 from the personal perspective and $34 from the public perspective. Conclusions.—Pediatricians in Massachusetts identified significant financial barriers to the adoption of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine related to insurance arrangements. Based on willingness-to-pay questions, the value of the vaccine is lower than the current list price. The methods used to estimate the value of a vaccine, including the perspective used to frame questions, may substantially influence the results.

Objective.To test whether an educational outreach intervention for families and physicians, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) principles of judicious antibiotic use, decreases antimicrobial drug prescribing for children younger than 6 years old.Setting.Twelve practices affiliated with 2 managed care organizations (MCOs) in eastern Massachusetts and northwest Washington State.Patients.All enrolled children younger than 6 years old.Methods.Practices stratified by MCO and size were randomized to intervention or control groups. The intervention included 2 meetings of the practice with a physician peer leader, using CDC-endorsed summaries of judicious prescribing recommendations; feedback on previous prescribing rates were also provided. Parents were mailed a CDC brochure on antibiotic use, and supporting materials were displayed in waiting rooms. Automated enrollment, ambulatory visit, and pharmacy claims were used to determine rates of antibiotic courses dispensed (antibiotics/person-year) during baseline (1996–1997) and intervention (1997–1998) years. The primary analysis (for children 3 to Results.The practices cared for 14 468 and 13 460 children in the 2 study years, respectively; 8815 children contributed data in both years. Sixty-two percent of antibiotic courses were dispensed for otitis media, 6.5% for pharyngitis, 6.3% for sinusitis, and 9.2% for colds and bronchitis. Antibiotic dispensing for children 3 to Conclusions.A limited simultaneous educational outreach intervention for parents and providers reduced antibiotic use among children in primary care practices, even in the setting of substantial secular trends toward decreased prescribing. Future efforts to promote judicious prescribing should continue to build on growing public awareness of antibiotic overuse.

Background The need for effectiveness and dissemination research is at least as great in mental health as in other areas of health care. The Mental Health Research Network aims to use the VDW for multi-site studies of mental disorder epidemiology, treatment patterns, or treatment effectiveness. We expect that the existing infrastructure is satisfactory in some areas, while others will need improvement or expansion. We present early results from validation studies of enrollment and pharmacy data on patterns of psychotherapeutic drug use.

Background Recent increases in patient cost-sharing for health care have lent increasing importance to monitoring cost-related changes in health care use. Despite the widespread use of survey questions to measure changes in health care use and related behaviors, scant data exists on the reliability of such questions. Methods We administered a cross-sectional survey to a stratified random sample of families in a New England health plan's high deductible health plan (HDHP) with ≥ $500 in annualized out-of-pocket expenditures. Enrollees were asked about their knowledge of their plan, information seeking, behavior change associated with having a deductible, experience of delay in care due in part to cost, and hypothetical delay in care due in part to cost. Initial respondents were mailed a follow-up survey within two weeks of each family returning the original survey. We computed several agreement statistics to measure the test-retest reliability for select questions. We also conducted continuity adjusted chi-square, and McNemar tests in both the original and follow-up samples to measure the degree to which our results could be reproduced. Analyses were stratified by self-reported income. Results The test-retest reliability was moderate for the majority of questions (0.41 - 0.60) and the level of test-retest reliability did not differ substantially across each of the broader domains of questions. The observed proportions of respondents with delayed or foregone pediatric, adult, or any family care were similar when comparing the original and follow-up surveys. In the original survey, respondents in the lower-income group were more likely to delay or forego pediatric care, adult care, or any family care. All of the tests comparing income groups in the follow-up survey produced the same result as in the original survey. Conclusions In this population of HDHP beneficiaries, we found that survey questions concerning plan knowledge, information seeking, and delayed or foregone care were moderately reliable. Our results offer reassurance for researchers using survey information to study the effects cost sharing on health care utilization.

To examine how enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) affects use of well-child visits relative to traditional plans, when preventive care is exempt from the deductible.Pre-post comparison between groups.We selected children aged18 years enrolled in a large Massachusetts health plan through employers offering only 1 type of plan. Children were in traditional plans for a 12-month baseline period between 2001 and 2004, then were either switched by a decision of the parent's employer to an HDHP or kept in the traditional plan (controls) for a 12-month follow-up period. Preventive and other office visits were exempt from the deductible and subject to copayments, as in traditional plans. The primary outcome was whether the child received well-child visits recommended for the 12-month period. Using generalized linear mixed models, we compared the change in receipt of recommended well-child visits between baseline and follow-up for the HDHP group relative to controls.We identified 1598 children who were switched to HDHPs and 10,093 controls. Between baseline and follow-up, the mean proportion of recommended well-child visits received by HDHP children decreased slightly from 0.846 to 0.841, and from 0.861 to 0.855 for controls. In adjusted models, there was no significant difference in the change in probability that recommended well-child visits were received by HDHP children compared with controls (P = .69).Receipt of recommended well-child visits did not change for children switching from traditional plans to HDHPs that exempt preventive care from the deductible.

Background Many studies have evaluated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections during single hospitalizations and subsequent readmissions to the same institution. None have assessed the comprehensive burden of MRSA infection in the period after hospital discharge while accounting for healthcare utilization across institutions. Methodology/Principal Findings We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients insured by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care who were newly-detected to harbor MRSA between January 1991 and December 2003 at a tertiary care medical center. We evaluated all MRSA-attributable infections associated with hospitalization in the year following new detection, regardless of hospital location. Data were collected on comorbidities, healthcare utilization, mortality and MRSA outcomes. Of 591 newly-detected MRSA carriers, 23% were colonized and 77% were infected upon detection. In the year following detection, 196 (33%) patients developed 317 discrete and unrelated MRSA infections. The most common infections were pneumonia (34%), soft tissue (27%), and primary bloodstream (18%) infections. Infections occurred a median of 56 days post-detection. Of all infections, 26% involved bacteremia, and 17% caused MRSA-attributable death. During the admission where MRSA was newly-detected, 14% (82/576) developed subsequent infection. Of those surviving to discharge, 24% (114/482) developed post-discharge infections in the year following detection. Half (99/185, 54%) of post-discharge infections caused readmission, and most (104/185, 55%) occurred over 90 days post-discharge. Conclusions/Significance In high-risk tertiary care patients, newly-detected MRSA carriage confers large risks of infection and substantial attributable mortality in the year following acquisition. Most infections occur post-discharge, and 18% of infections associated with readmission occurred in hospitals other than the one where MRSA was newly-detected. Despite gains in reducing MRSA infections during hospitalization, the risk of MRSA infection among critically and chronically ill carriers persists after discharge and warrants targeted prevention strategies.

Background/Aims: The VDW’s Census file contains demographic and socioeconomic data not available anywhere else. This makes it a unique resource for VDW research including studies using Geographic Information Systems data. However, the extent and quality of Census file data at implementing sites has not been subjected to systematic scrutiny. The VDW Census Workgroup was formed under the auspices of the new HMORN governance of the VDW. This workgroup is charged with assessing the census file specification and the quality of the implemented files at HMORN sites. The objectives for the workgroup are to: document area-level data that are currently available at each HMORN site; determine the completeness and consistency of the data; and provide recommendations for improving the scope and completeness of the data in the VDW Census file. Methods: The workgroup has prepared specifications for a set of descriptive tables, and a metadata survey inquiring how sites have implemented the current Census file. We are currently writing a VDW program to generate site-specific descriptive data. Results: Our report to the Operations Committee will focus on extent and quality of the Census file data at the various sites, and the consistency in implementation of the specifications across sites. The proposed poster will highlight our findings and provide a more comprehensive view of the available data. The workgroup is currently analyzing data from the metadata survey. A VDW program is being written to generate a rich set of site-specific data. The final report will serve as a basis for establishing the current state of the Census files at each site, and for making recommendations for future improvements. It will also serve as a useful reference for future grant writing efforts. Implications: We anticipate that the products will facilitate use of the Census File data within and across sites to augment and/or generate research within the CRN that requires detailed geographic data. Our data completeness and quality summaries will enable researchers to assess the feasibility and potential utility of the Census File within their research projects. Conclusions: We expect to conclude that the data are of general high quality at the sites, but that current ambiguities in the specification will need to be remedied.

OBJECTIVES. Our aims were (1) to describe rates of suboptimal control and controller medication underuse in a diverse population of children with asthma and (2) to identify potentially modifiable parental behaviors and beliefs associated with these outcomes.METHODS. We conducted telephone interviews with parents of 2- to 12-year-old children with persistent asthma, in a Medicaid plan and a large provider group. Suboptimal control was defined as ≥4 symptom days, ≥1 symptom night, or ≥4 albuterol use days in the previous 2 weeks. Controller medication underuse was defined as suboptimal control and parent report of RESULTS. Of the 754 study children, 280 (37%) had suboptimal asthma control; this problem was more common in Hispanic children (51%) than in black (37%) or white (32%) children. Controller medication underuse was present for 133 children (48% of those with suboptimal asthma control and 18% overall). Controller medication underuse was more common among Hispanic (44%) and black (34%) children than white (22%) children. In multivariate analyses, suboptimal control was associated with potentially modifiable factors including low parental expectations for symptom control and high levels of worry about competing household priorities. Controller medication underuse was associated with potentially modifiable factors including parental estimation of asthma control that was discordant with national guidelines and no set time to administer asthma medications.CONCLUSIONS. Deficiencies in asthma control and controller medication use are associated with potentially modifiable parental beliefs, which seem to mediate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in suboptimal control and controller medication underuse.

Objective . To examine the relationship between health beliefs and attitudes toward colorectal cancer screening, strength of family history risk, and being appropriately screened for colorectal cancer. Methods . In February 2004, 7000 randomly selected members of a multi-specialty group practice located in Boston, MA were mailed a brief survey that was used to ascertain colorectal cancer family history. A follow-up survey that contained questions representing selected constructs of the Health Belief Model, Theory of Planned Behavior, and healthcare experiences was then mailed to all 355 individuals who reported a family history in the initial survey and 710 randomly selected participants with no colorectal cancer family history. Results . Participants who were appropriately screened had higher mean scores for perceived cancer risk, subjective norms, and perceived benefits and lower scores for perceived barriers. Multivariate findings indicate that having high perceptions of risk for colorectal cancer was a significant correlate of being screened appropriately among individuals with a strong family history. Conclusions . For those at greatest colorectal cancer risk due to family history, ensuring that these individuals understand their personal risk might lead to increased colorectal cancer screening participation. Future intervention research is warranted to examine if raising perceptions of risk can increase screening behaviors in individuals with colorectal cancer risk due to family history.

To examine correlates of guideline adherence in a population with access to health care and prescription drug benefits, the authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis among 5789 patients undergoing hypertension treatment with a single medication in a large New England managed care organization. Logistic regression was used to determine correlates of adherence, defined as use of diuretics or beta blocker as antihypertensive monotherapy during the 1-year study period. Women were more likely than men to receive guideline-adherent therapy (odds ratio [OR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45-1.85). Compared with patients covered by health maintenance organization plans, Medicare coverage was positively associated with guideline adherence (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.13-1.69), but fee-for-service coverage was negatively associated (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.48-0.91). Patient age was not a significant correlate of adherence to guidelines (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.94-1.09). Understanding these observations may lead to strategies to improve guideline adherence and reduce health care disparities.

Purpose To compare group versus individual academic detailing to increase diuretic or β-blocker use in hypertension. Methods We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in a large health maintenance organization. Subjects (N=9820) were patients with newly treated hypertension in the year preceding the intervention (N=3692), the 9 months following the intervention (N=3556), and the second year following intervention (N=2572). We randomly allocated 3 practice sites to group detailing (N=227 prescribers), 3 to individual detailing (N=235 prescribers), and 3 to usual care (N=319 prescribers). Individual detailing entailed a physician-educator meeting individually with clinicians to address barriers to prescribing guideline-recommended medications. The group detailing intervention incorporated the same social marketing principles in small groups of clinicians. Results In the first year following the intervention, the rates of diuretic or β-blocker use increased by 13.2% in the group detailing practices, 12.5% in the individual detailing practices, and 6.2% in the usual care practices. As compared with usual care practices, diuretic or β-blocker use was more likely in group detailing practices (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11 – 1.76) and individual detailing practices (adjusted OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.95 – 1.79). Neither intervention affected blood pressure control. Two years following this single-visit intervention, there was still a trend suggesting a persistent effect of individual (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.92 – 1.62), but not group, detailing (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.80 – 1.39), as compared with usual care. Conclusion Both group and individual academic detailing improved antihypertensive prescribing over and above usual care but may require reinforcement to sustain improvements.

Background Little is known about whether pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has altered pediatricians' practices regarding well-child and acute care. Objectives To (1) describe whether PCV caused pediatricians to move other routine infant vaccines and/or add routine visits; (2) characterize adherence to national immunization recommendations; and (3) determine whether PCV altered pediatricians' planned clinical approach to well-appearing febrile infants. Design and Methods One year after PCV was added to the pediatric immunization schedule, we mailed a 23-item survey to 691 randomly selected pediatricians in Massachusetts. The adjusted response rate was 77%. Results After PCV introduction, 39% of pediatricians moved other routine infant vaccines to different visits and 15% added routine visits to the infant schedule. The self-reported immunization schedules of 36% were nonadherent to national immunization guidelines for at least 1 vaccine. Nonadherence rates were significantly higher among pediatricians who had been in practice longer, moved another vaccine because of PCV introduction, and/or offered to give shots later when multiple injections were due. For a hypothetical febrile 8-month-old girl who had received 3 doses of PCV, pediatricians reported they were significantly less likely to (1) perform both blood and urine testing and (2) prescribe antibiotics than in the pre-PCV era. Conclusions The introduction of PCV may have had unintended effects on pediatric primary care, including decreased adherence to national recommendations for the timing of immunizations and decreased urine testing for well-appearing febrile infants. Special efforts may be warranted to ensure that pediatricians remain current with changing recommendations.

Background The Virtual Data Warehouse (VDW) was created as a mechanism for producing comparable data across sites for purposes of proposing and conducting research. It is “virtual” in the sense that the data remain at the local sites; there is no multi-site physical database at a centralized coordinating center. At the core of the VDW are a series of standardized file definitions. Content areas and data elements that are commonly required for research studies are identified, and data dictionaries are created for each content area, specifying a common format for each of the elements— variable name, label, description, code values, and value labels. Local site programmers have mapped the data elements from their HMO’s data systems into this standardized set of variable definitions, names, and codes, as well as onto standardized SAS file formats. This common structure of the VDW files enables a SAS analyst at one site to write one program to extract and/or analyze data at all participating sites.

Background National guidelines recommend daily use of controller medications for children with persistent asthma. Although studies suggest low rates of controller use, little is known about predictors of underuse among low-income children in whom asthma morbidity is greatest. Objectives To determine the frequency of underuse of controller medications among Medicaid-insured children in a variety of managed care arrangements, and to examine demographic factors and processes of asthma care associated with underuse. Design Cross-sectional telephone survey of parents of children and adolescents aged 2 to 16 years with asthma, insured by Medicaid, and enrolled in 1 of 5 managed care plans. The main outcome was parent-reported underuse of controllers among children with persistent asthma. Survey items included demographic factors and reports of specific processes of care. Current symptom level was determined by recall of the number of days with symptoms in the previous 14 and by the Physical Function Score of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Child Health Status Assessment for Asthma. Logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with underuse. Results The response rate was 66%, with 1648 children included in the analysis; 1083 were classified as having persistent asthma. Of these, 73% were underusers of controller therapy, with 49% reporting no controller use and 24% reporting less than daily use. A multivariate model that adjusted for age, managed health care organization, and AAP Physical Function Score found that black (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.4) or Latino (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.8) race were associated with underuse and that parental education beyond high school was protective (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8). Having a primary care physician (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.8), written action plan (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.4-0.7), or a follow-up visit (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8) and having seen an asthma specialist (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.4-0.7) were associated with lower rates of underuse. Conclusions Underuse of controller medications among Medicaid-insured children is widespread. Racial minorities and children whose parents are less educated are at higher risk for underuse. Patients who have received action plans or had follow-up visits or specialty consultations are less likely to be symptomatic underusers of controller medications.

Background Lower-income families may face unique challenges in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). Methods We administered a cross-sectional survey to a stratified random sample of families in a New England health plan's HDHP with at least $500 in annualized out-of-pocket expenditures. Lower-income families were defined as having incomes that were less than 300% of the federal poverty level. Primary outcomes were cost-related delayed or foregone care, difficulty understanding plans, unexpected costs, information-seeking, and likelihood of families asking their physician about hypothetical recommended services subject to the plan deductible. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for potential confounders of associations between income group and primary outcomes. Results Lower-income families (n = 141) were more likely than higher-income families (n = 273) to report cost-related delayed or foregone care (57% vs 42%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-2.83]). There were no differences in plan understanding, unexpected costs, or information-seeking by income. Lower-income families were more likely than others to say they would ask their physician about a $100 blood test (79% vs 63%; AOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.18-3.28) or a $1000 screening colonoscopy (89% vs 80%; AOR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.06-3.93) subject to the plan deductible. Conclusions Lower-income families with out-of-pocket expenditures in an HDHP were more likely than higher-income families to report cost-related delayed or foregone care but did not report more difficulty understanding or using their plans, and might be more likely to question services requiring out-of-pocket expenditures. Policymakers and physicians should consider focused monitoring and benefit design modifications to support lower-income families in HDHPs.