Clinical outcomes of Queensland children with cystic fibrosis: a comparison between tertiary centre and outreach services.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) managed primarily at a tertiary cystic fibrosis centre (CFC) with those treated at regional centres by local health care professionals and the cystic fibrosis outreach service (CFOS).


METHODS
Retrospective study of 273 children with CF born between 19 October 1982 and 19 February 2002 and with clinical data available between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2002. Patients were grouped into CFC (n = 131) or CFOS (n = 142), with CFOS then further categorised into three groups depending on the level of care they received.


METHODS
Pulmonary function, Pseudomonas aeruginosa status, height and weight z scores, and hospital admission rates.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in pulmonary function, P. aeruginosa status, or height and weight z scores between children managed by CFC or by CFOS. Children receiving more care at the CFC (level of care [LOC] 1 and 2) were more likely to have multiple hospital admissions than children receiving more care in regional areas (LOC 3 and 4) (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The CFOS model provides effective delivery of specialised multidisciplinary care to children and adolescents living in rural and regional Queensland.
Thomas
Clare L
CL
Paediatric Department, Nambour General Hospital, Nambour, QLD, Australia. clare_thomas@health.qld.gov.au
O'Rourke
Peter K
PK
Wainwright
Claire E
CE
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011793:Queensland; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services; D016896:Treatment Outcome