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Pade KH, Thompson LR, Ravandi B, Chang TP, Barry F, Halterman JS, Szilagyi PG, Okelo SO. Parental perception of a picture-based chronic asthma care management tool in an urban pediatric emergency department. J Asthma 2020; 58:1013-1023. [PMID: 32249659 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2020.1753210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND National asthma guidelines recommend use of an asthma action plan (AAP) as part of chronic asthma care. Unfortunately, AAPs have not been tailored for use in acute care settings, where many patients at risk for poor chronic asthma care are seen, including those who are non-English-speaking or have low literacy levels. We previously developed a picture-based medication plan (PBMP), a unique type of AAP for use in an ambulatory setting and designed to increase patient use and understanding. However, little is known about how parents seeking emergency department (ED) asthma care would perceive the PBMP. OBJECTIVE To assess parental attitudes toward an asthma PBMP in the largest pediatric ED in Los Angeles County. METHODS We surveyed a consecutive sample of English- or Spanish-speaking parents of children 2-17 years seeking ED asthma care. Parents used a 5-point Likert scale for various statements regarding their perceptions of the PBMP. Responses were analyzed by sociodemographics, asthma control, and health literacy using Chi-squared and t-tests. RESULTS 90 parents provided feedback on the PBMP. The majority of parents endorsed the PBMP. Endorsement was 20%-30% higher among Spanish-speaking parents and those who did not complete high-school compared to English-speaking parents and parents with a high school education or higher (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). CONCLUSION Spanish-speaking parents and parents with less than a high-school education overwhelmingly endorsed the PBMP. It may be useful to consider incorporating the PBMP as part of patient-centered chronic asthma care strategies for populations seen in ED settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- K H Pade
- UCSD School of Medicine, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - L R Thompson
- Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - B Ravandi
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - T P Chang
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - F Barry
- Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - P G Szilagyi
- Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - S O Okelo
- Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Fagnano M, Berkman E, Wiesenthal E, Butz A, Halterman JS. Depression among caregivers of children with asthma and its impact on communication with health care providers. Public Health 2012; 126:1051-7. [PMID: 23102501 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2012.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caregiver depression is common, can negatively influence one's ability to communicate with health care providers, and may hinder appropriate care for children with asthma. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of caregiver depression on communication and self-efficacy in interactions about asthma with their child's physician. STUDY DESIGN Cross sectional analysis using data from the Prompting Asthma Intervention in Rochester-Uniting Parents and Providers study. METHODS We enrolled caregivers of children (2-12 yrs) with persistent asthma prior to their health care visit. Caregivers were interviewed via telephone after the visit to assess depression, self-efficacy, and provider communication at the visit. Caregiver depression was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress scale. We assessed caregiver self-efficacy using items from the Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions scale; caregivers rated their confidence for each item (range 0-10). We also inquired about how well the provider communicated regarding the child's asthma care. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used. RESULTS We interviewed 195 caregivers (response rate 78%; 41% Black, 37% Hispanic), and 30% had depressive symptoms. Caregiver rating of provider communication did not differ by depression. Most caregivers reported high self-efficacy in their interactions with providers; however depressed caregivers had lower scores (8.7 vs. 9.4, p = .001) than non-depressed caregivers. Further, depressed caregivers were less likely to be satisfied with the visit (66% vs. 83%, p = .014), and to feel all of their needs were met (66% vs. 85%, p = .007). In multivariate analyses, depressed caregivers were >2× more likely to be unsatisfied with the visit and to have unmet needs compared to non-depressed caregivers. CONCLUSIONS Depressed caregivers of children with asthma report lower confidence in interactions with providers about asthma and are less likely to feel that their needs are met at a visit. Further study is needed to determine the best methods to communicate with and meet the needs of these caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Fagnano
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
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Halterman JS, Lynch KA, Conn KM, Hernandez TE, Perry TT, Stevens TP. Environmental exposures and respiratory morbidity among very low birth weight infants at 1 year of life. Arch Dis Child 2009; 94:28-32. [PMID: 18703545 PMCID: PMC5279900 DOI: 10.1136/adc.2008.137349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Preterm infants have a substantially increased risk of developing respiratory illnesses. The goal of this study was to consider the impact of modifiable postnatal exposures on respiratory morbidity among a cohort of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. OBJECTIVES (1) Assess the rates of respiratory morbidity and exposure to indoor respiratory triggers in a population of VLBW infants at 1 year; (2) determine the association between exposures and respiratory morbidity. METHODS We enrolled 124 VLBW infants into a prospective cohort study. Parents were called at 1 year to assess respiratory outcomes and environmental exposures. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to assess the relationship between environmental exposures and acute care for respiratory illnesses. RESULTS At 1 year, 9% of infants had physician-diagnosed asthma, 47% required >or=1 acute visit and 11% required hospitalisation for respiratory illness. The majority of infants (82%) were exposed to at least one indoor respiratory trigger. Infants living with a smoker (61% vs 40%) and infants exposed to pests (62% vs 39%) were more likely than unexposed infants to require acute care for respiratory problems. In a multivariate regression controlling for demographics, birth weight, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and family history of asthma or allergies, both living with a smoker (OR 2.62; CI 1.09 to 6.29) and exposure to pests (OR 4.41; CI 1.22 to 15.94) were independently associated with the need for acute care for respiratory illnesses. CONCLUSIONS In this sample, respiratory morbidity and exposure to triggers were common. VLBW infants may benefit from interventions that decrease exposure to respiratory triggers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA.
| | - K A Lynch
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - K M Conn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - T E Hernandez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - T T Perry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - T P Stevens
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND One barrier to receiving adequate asthma care is inaccurate estimations of symptom severity. AIMS To interview parents of children with asthma in order to: (1) describe the range of reported illness severity using three unstructured methods of assessment; (2) determine which assessment method is least likely to result in a "critical error" that could adversely influence the child's care; and (3) determine whether the likelihood of making a "critical error" varies by sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS A total of 228 parents of children with asthma participated. Clinical status was evaluated using structured questions reflecting National Asthma Education and Prevention Panel (NAEPP) criteria. Unstructured assessments of severity were determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS), a categorical assessment of severity, and a Likert scale assessment of asthma control. A "critical error" was defined as a parent report of symptoms in the lower 50th centile for each method of assessment for children with moderate-severe persistent symptoms by NAEPP criteria. RESULTS Children with higher severity according to NAEPP criteria were rated on each unstructured assessment as more symptomatic compared to those with less severe symptoms. However, among the children with moderate-severe persistent symptoms, many parents made a critical error and rated children in the lower 50th centile using the VAS (41%), the categorical assessment (45%), and the control assessment (67%). The likelihood of parents making a critical error did not vary by sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS All of the unstructured assessment methods tested yielded underestimations of severity that could adversely influence treatment decisions. Specific symptom questions are needed for accurate severity assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Children's Hospital at Strong, and School of Nursing, University of Rochester, NY, USA. jill_
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Asthma morbidity and mortality continue to increase despite the availability of improved therapies. Little is known about the degree to which children with asthma use medications and health care services during symptomatic periods. This study documents prospectively the use of medications and health care contacts among children with active asthma symptoms. METHODS Children age 6--19 years from 11 primary care settings in upstate New York were eligible for this study if they had 3 or more asthma-related medical visits during the prior year. We collected extensive information on asthma symptoms, medication use, and contacts with health care providers from biweekly phone interviews and daily diaries during a 3-month period. Symptoms were evaluated as the average number of symptomatic days per week. We tabulated the proportion of children using anti-inflammatory medications and having health care contacts according to the frequency of their symptoms during this 3-month period. Chi-square and regression analyses were used. RESULTS One hundred sixty-five children participated (67% White, 24% Black, 9% Other). Sixty-five percent of the children in this sample had an average of more than 2 symptomatic days per week or more than 2 symptomatic nights per month during the 3-month study period and thus had mild persistent to severe asthma. Among these children, 25% received prednisone, and 46% reported the use of an inhaled maintenance medication during the monitoring period. Ten percent of children in this sample experienced an average of 6 or more symptomatic days per week during the study period. Among these highly symptomatic children, only 19% received prednisone, and 56% used a maintenance medication. Further, the proportion of children having contact with a health care provider during this 3-month period was 50% or less, even among the children experiencing the most frequent asthma symptoms. There were no differences in the proportion of children with health care contacts, prednisone use, or maintenance anti-inflammatory use among different gender or race categories or with different insurance types or places of residence. CONCLUSIONS Even among children experiencing almost daily asthma symptoms, inadequate anti-inflammatory therapy is common, and few contacts with health care providers occur. These children are silently suffering at home and likely are experiencing preventable morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642, USA.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with chronic illnesses, including asthma, are at risk for school problems. Developmental problems, however, may begin before school entry, and the developmental status of preschool children with asthma has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that urban preschool children with asthma have lower parent-reported developmental scores compared with children without asthma. METHODS A comprehensive survey of children beginning kindergarten in 1998 in the urban school system in Rochester, NY, collected parent reports of demographic, medical, and developmental data. We compared children with asthma with and without limitation of activity to children without asthma for motor, language, socioemotional, and school readiness skills and the need for extra help with learning. Linear and logistic regression were used to determine associations between asthma and developmental outcomes. RESULTS Among the 1058 children in this sample, 9% had asthma, including 5% with asthma with limitation of activity. After adjustment for multiple potential confounding variables, the children with asthma with limitation had lower scores on school readiness skills compared with children without asthma (2.0 vs 2.5, P <.001). Further, the parents of children with asthma with limitation were substantially more likely (P <.05) to describe them as needing extra help with learning (74% vs 56%; odds ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.5--7.8). CONCLUSIONS Urban preschool children with significant asthma had poorer parent-reported school readiness skills and a greater need for extra help with learning compared with children without asthma. This finding suggests that developmental problems for children with asthma may begin before school entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY 14642, USA.
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Halterman JS, Kaczorowski JM, Aligne CA, Auinger P, Szilagyi PG. Iron deficiency and cognitive achievement among school-aged children and adolescents in the United States. Pediatrics 2001; 107:1381-6. [PMID: 11389261 DOI: 10.1542/peds.107.6.1381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 317] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Iron deficiency anemia in infants can cause developmental problems. However, the relationship between iron status and cognitive achievement in older children is less clear. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between iron deficiency and cognitive test scores among a nationally representative sample of school-aged children and adolescents. DESIGN The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III 1988-1994 provides cross-sectional data for children 6 to 16 years old and contains measures of iron status including transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, and serum ferritin. Children were considered iron-deficient if any 2 of these values were abnormal for age and gender, and standard hemoglobin values were used to detect anemia. Scores from standardized tests were compared for children with normal iron status, iron deficiency without anemia, and iron deficiency with anemia. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association of iron status and below average test scores, controlling for confounding factors. RESULTS Among the 5398 children in the sample, 3% were iron-deficient. The prevalence of iron deficiency was highest among adolescent girls (8.7%). Average math scores were lower for children with iron deficiency with and without anemia, compared with children with normal iron status (86.4 and 87.4 vs 93.7). By logistic regression, children with iron deficiency had greater than twice the risk of scoring below average in math than did children with normal iron status (odds ratio: 2.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-4.4). This elevated risk was present even for iron-deficient children without anemia (odds ratio: 2.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.1-5.2). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated lower standardized math scores among iron-deficient school-aged children and adolescents, including those with iron deficiency without anemia. Screening for iron deficiency without anemia may be warranted for children at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY, USA.
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Kaczorowski JM, Halterman JS, Spitalnik P, Mannick E, Fong CT, Seaman JM. Pathology teach and tell: congenital hepatic fibrosis and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Pediatr Pathol Mol Med 2001; 20:245-8. [PMID: 11486356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J M Kaczorowski
- Children's Hospital at Strong, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA.
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Halterman JS, Aligne CA, Auinger P, McBride JT, Szilagyi PG. Inadequate therapy for asthma among children in the United States. Pediatrics 2000; 105:272-6. [PMID: 10617735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood asthma morbidity and mortality are increasing despite improvements in asthma therapy. We hypothesized that a substantial number of children with moderate to severe asthma are not taking the maintenance medications recommended by national guidelines. The objective of this study was to describe medication use among US children with asthma and determine risk factors for inadequate therapy. METHODS The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III 1988-1994 provided cross-sectional, parent-reported data for children 2 months to 16 years of age. Analysis focused on children with moderate to severe asthma (defined as having any hospitalization for wheezing, >/=2 acute visits for wheezing, or >/=3 episodes of wheezing over the past year). We defined these children as adequately treated if they had taken a maintenance medication (inhaled corticosteroid, cromolyn, or theophylline) during the past month. Demographic variables were analyzed for independent associations with inadequacy of therapy. The statistical analysis used SUDAAN software to account for the complex sampling design. RESULTS A total of 1025 children (9.4%) had physician-diagnosed asthma. Of those with moderate to severe asthma (n = 524), only 26% had taken a maintenance medication during the past month. Even among children with 2 or more hospitalizations over the previous year, only 32% had taken maintenance medications. In a logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with inadequate therapy included: age </=5 years, Medicaid insurance, and Spanish language. Children surveyed after 1991, when national guidelines for asthma management became available, were no more likely to have taken maintenance medications than children surveyed before 1991. CONCLUSION Most children with moderate to severe asthma in this nationally representative sample, including those with multiple hospitalizations, did not receive adequate asthma therapy. These children may incur avoidable morbidity. Young children, poor children, and children from Spanish-speaking families appear to be at particularly high risk for inadequate therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Children's Hospital at Strong, Rochester, New York, USA.
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Halterman JS. Resident's column: all that wheezes.... The challenges of a common pediatric disease. Pediatr Ann 1999; 28:84-5. [PMID: 9926376 DOI: 10.3928/0090-4481-19990101-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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Abstract
The differential diagnosis of stridor in the pediatric population is broad and should include hypocalcemia with resultant laryngospasm. We present the case of a breast-fed infant who presented to the pediatric emergency department with profound stridor during the winter months because of hypocalcemia of undiagnosed rickets. The patient responded to intravenous calcium chloride with rapid resolution of symptoms. Emergency physicians should consider obtaining ionized calcium levels in pediatric patients with stridor, especially when standard therapies for more common causes of stridor are ineffective.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Halterman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital, New York 14642-8655, USA
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