title: Practice variations in treating urban minority asthmatics in Chicago.
abstract: This study explores provider adherence to national guidelines in treating Latino and African-American asthmatics. We hypothesized that there would be more variations in asthma treatment existing for minorities as a result of variation in physician's adherent to the guidelines. A 96-item survey was administered to 138 Latino and African-American asthmatics attending a hospital emergency department. Data were obtained on demography, severity, access, patient satisfaction, and patient's assessment of physician asthma management. Results were analyzed by ethnicity, gender, practice site of regular provider, and severity. Variation in physician practice was found in these variables. Asthma treatment received by Latino and African-American respondents was deficient compared to guidelines. Regression analyses showed that Latinos fared more poorly on the number of prednisone bursts taken, use of written crisis plans and dispensation of peak flow meters controlling for gender, practice site and severity. African-Americans expressed less dissatisfaction in obtaining services, while both groups expressed high degrees of satisfaction with their providers.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rydman
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Giachello
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yarzagaray
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peragallo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barquero
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Arrom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services