1
|
Amjad S, Tromburg C, Adesunkanmi M, Mawa J, Mahbub N, Campbell S, Chari R, Rowe BH, Ospina MB. Social Determinants of Health and Pediatric Emergency Department Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Ann Emerg Med 2024; 83:291-313. [PMID: 38069966 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE Social determinants of health contribute to disparities in pediatric health and health care. Our objective was to synthesize and evaluate the evidence on the association between social determinants of health and emergency department (ED) outcomes in pediatric populations. METHODS This review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Equity Extension guidelines. Observational epidemiological studies were included if they examined at least 1 social determinant of health from the PROGRESS-Plus framework in relation to ED outcomes among children <18 years old. Effect direction plots were used for narrative results and pooled odds ratios (pOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for meta-analyses. RESULTS Fifty-eight studies were included, involving 17,275,090 children and 103,296,839 ED visits. Race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status were the most reported social determinants of health (71% each). Black children had 3 times the odds of utilizing the ED (pOR 3.16, 95% CI 2.46 to 4.08), whereas visits by Indigenous children increased the odds of departure prior to completion of care (pOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.39 to 1.80) compared to White children. Public insurance, low income, neighborhood deprivation, and proximity to an ED were also predictors of ED utilization. Children whose caregivers had a preferred language other than English had longer length of stay and increased hospital admission. CONCLUSION Social determinants of health, particularly race, socioeconomic deprivation, proximity to an ED, and language, play important roles in ED care-seeking patterns of children and families. Increased utilization of ED services by children from racial minority and lower socioeconomic status groups may reflect barriers to health insurance and access to health care, including primary and subspecialty care, and/or poorer overall health, necessitating ED care. An intersectional approach is needed to better understand the trajectories of disparities in pediatric ED outcomes and to develop, implement, and evaluate future policies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sana Amjad
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Courtney Tromburg
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maryam Adesunkanmi
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jannatul Mawa
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nazif Mahbub
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandra Campbell
- John W. Scott Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Radha Chari
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian H Rowe
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maria B Ospina
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University; Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jaboyedoff M, Starvaggi C, Suris JC, Kuehni CE, Gehri M, Keitel K. Drivers for low-acuity pediatric emergency department visits in two tertiary hospitals in Switzerland: a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:103. [PMID: 38238764 PMCID: PMC10797974 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10348-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Low-acuity pediatric emergency department (PED) visits are frequent in high-income countries and have a negative impact on patient care at the individual and health system levels. Knowing what drives low-acuity PED visits is crucial to inform adaptations in health care delivery. We aimed to identify factors associated with low-acuity PED visits in Switzerland, including socioeconomic status, demographic features, and medical resources of families. METHODS We conducted a prospective, questionnaire-based study in the PEDs of two Swiss tertiary care hospitals, Bern and Lausanne. We invited all consecutive children and their caregiver attending the PED during data collection times representative of the overall PED consultation structure (e.g. day/night, weekdays/weekends) to complete a questionnaire on demographic features, socioeconomic status, and medical resources. We collected medical and administrative data about the visit and defined low-acuity visits as those meeting all of the following criteria: (1) triage category 4 or 5 on the Australasian Triage Scale, (2) no imaging or laboratory test performed, and (3) discharge home. We used a binary multiple logistic regression model to identify factors associated with low-acuity visits. RESULTS We analysed 778 PED visits (September 2019 to July 2020). Most children visiting our PEDs had a designated primary care provider (92%), with only 6% not having seen them during the last year. Fifty-five per cent of caregivers had asked for medical advice before coming to the PED. The proportion of low-acuity visits was 58%. Low-acuity visits were associated with caregiver's difficulties paying bills (aOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6 - 4.4), having already visited a PED in the last 6 months (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 - 2.5) but not with parental education status, nor parental country of birth, parental employment status or absence of family network. CONCLUSION Economic precariousness is an important driver for low-acuity PED visits in Switzerland, a high-income country with compulsory health coverage where most children have a designated primary care provider and a regular pediatric follow-up. Primary care providers and PEDs should screen families for economic precariousness and offer anticipatory guidance and connect those in financial need to social support.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manon Jaboyedoff
- Department Women-Mother-Child, Service of Pediatrics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Carl Starvaggi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joan-Carles Suris
- Department Women-Mother-Child, Service of Pediatrics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claudia E Kuehni
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mario Gehri
- Department Women-Mother-Child, Service of Pediatrics, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kristina Keitel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Muggli Z, Mertens TE, Amado R, Vaz D, Loureiro H, Martins MRO. Patterns of healthcare use among children with immigrant and non-immigrant backgrounds in 2019 and 2020: evidence from the CRIAS cohort study in the metropolitan area of Lisbon, Portugal. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2531. [PMID: 38110906 PMCID: PMC10726586 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17402-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND International migrant families may face various barriers in the access and use of health services. Evidence on immigrant children's health care or prevention facilities' utilisation patterns is scarce in Portugal. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to compare health services use between immigrant and non-immigrant children in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon in 2019-2020 with the aim of informing public policies towards equitable access to, and use of health services. METHODS The CRIAS (Health Trajectories of Immigrant Children) prospective cohort study enrolled 420 children (51.6% immigrant) born in 2015 and attending primary health care (PHC) services in 2019. We compared primary health care facilities and hospital paediatric emergency department (ED) utilisation patterns in the public National Health Service, together with reported private practitioners use, between immigrant and non-immigrant children in 2019 and 2020. The Pearson chi-squared test, Fisher-Freeman-Halton Exact test, two-proportion z-test and Mann‒Whitney U test were used to examine the differences between the two groups. RESULTS In 2019, no significant differences in PHC consultations attendance between the two groups were observed. However, first-generation immigrant children (children residing in Portugal born in a non-European Union country) accessed fewer routine health assessments compared to non-immigrant children (63.4% vs. 79.2%). When children were acutely ill, 136 parents, of whom 55.9% were parents of non-immigrant children, reported not attending PHC as the first point of contact. Among those, nearly four times more non-immigrant children sought healthcare in the private sector than immigrant children (p < 0.001). Throughout 2019, immigrant children used ED more often than non-immigrant children (53.5% vs. 40.4%, p = 0.010), as their parents reported difficulties in accessing PHC. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer immigrant children accessed PHC compared to non-immigrant children (70% vs. 80%, p = 0.018). Both non-immigrant and immigrant children reduced ED use by 2.5 times, with a higher decrease among immigrant children (46% vs. 34%). In both 2019 and 2020, over 80% of immigrant and non-immigrant children used ED for conditions classified as having low clinical priority. CONCLUSION Beyond identifying health care use inequalities between immigrant and non-immigrant children, the study points to urgent needs for public policy and economic investments to strengthen PHC for all children rather than for some.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zélia Muggli
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Thierry E Mertens
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Regina Amado
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dora Vaz
- Amadora Primary Care Health Centres Group, Regional Health Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Amadora, Portugal
| | - Helena Loureiro
- Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Prof. Dr. Fernando Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal
| | - Maria Rosário O Martins
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mason-Jones AJ, Beltrán L, Keding A, Berry V, Blower SL, Whittaker K, Bywater T. Predictors of Mother and Infant Emergency Department Attendance and Admission: A Prospective Observational Study. Matern Child Health J 2023; 27:527-537. [PMID: 36701099 PMCID: PMC9879240 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-022-03581-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the predictors of emergency department attendance and admission for mothers and their infants. METHODS Self-reported emergency department (ED) attendance and admission, sociodemographic, mental health, and other measures were recorded at baseline and at 12 months at 4 sites in England between May 2017 and March 2020. RESULTS Infants' gestational age (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.88, p = 0.001), mothers' mental health (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.41, p = 0.005) and mothers' attendance at ED (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.84, p = 0.022) predicted infant ED attendance. Frequency of attendance was predicted by ED site (IRR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.73, p = 0.001) and mothers' age (IRR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.00, p = 0.028). Infant hospital admissions were predominantly for respiratory (40%) and other infectious diseases (21%) and were predicted by previous health problems (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.76 to 6.01, p < 0.001). Mothers' ED attendance was predicted by mixed or multiple ethnic origin (OR 9.62, 95% CI 2.19 to 42.27, p = 0.003), having a male infant (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.20, p = 0.042), and previous hospitalisation (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.81 to 9.56, p = 0.001). Hospital admission was largely for reproductive health issues (61%) with frequency predicted by having attended the ED at least once (IRR 3.39, 95% CI 1.66 to 6.93, p = 0.001), and being anxious or depressed (IRR 3.10, 95% CI 1.14 to 8.45, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE Improving the reproductive and mental health of mothers may help to avoid poor maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce emergency service utilisation and hospitalisation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Mason-Jones
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Luis Beltrán
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Ada Keding
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Vashti Berry
- College of Medicine and Health, South Cloisters, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Sarah L Blower
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Karen Whittaker
- School of Nursing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK
| | - Tracey Bywater
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Spiegel P, Wickramage K, McGovern T. Migrant and refugee health: Complex health associations among diverse contexts call for tailored and rights-based solutions. PLoS Med 2020; 17:e1003105. [PMID: 32231357 PMCID: PMC7108729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In an Editorial, Guest Editors Paul Spiegel, Terry McGovern and Kol Wickramage discuss the Special Issue on Refugee and Migrant Health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Spiegel
- Department of International Health and Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Terry McGovern
- Global Health Justice and Governance, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|