Childhood asthma: ED follow-up determinants.
BACKGROUND
This comparative correlational study investigated families who use the emergency department for childhood asthma to identify determinants of follow-up care. The primary hypothesis was: families who obtain follow-up care differ in predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics from families who do not obtain follow-up care.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 63 children presenting to the pediatric emergency department of a Central Florida hospital were enrolled. Logistic regression techniques were utilized to explicate the individual and combined effects of the variables that best predicted the outcome variable. The dichotomous dependent variable was follow-up care within 30 days of the ED visit.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven percent of the children did not follow up as directed. Mother's level of education was significantly associated with no follow-up (P = .0282). Odds of no follow-up were higher for children with more severe asthma (odds ratio [OR] 12.44) or older mothers (OR 2.14).


CONCLUSIONS
Follow-up is not occurring at desired levels. Although this study has clinical and research implications for health care providers, further research is needed to identify follow-up determinants and develop interventions to improve follow-up rates and asthma outcomes.
Smith
Lynn Carole
LC
Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology, Timmins, ON, Canada. smithly@northern.on.ca
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires