Sociodemographic differences in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric headache.
The authors investigated the sociodemographic differences in receiving a headache diagnosis for pediatric health care visits using 2 nationally representative databases--the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. For those visits involving a headache diagnosis, the authors explored 2 possible disparities in care--being diagnosed by a neurologist and being prescribed an evidence-based medication. A headache diagnosis was less common during visits for private insurance patients versus Medicaid patients. In addition, while a headache diagnosis was equally likely for visits by Caucasian American children versus African American children and children of other races, visits for the latter 2 groups were less likely to involve a headache diagnosis from a neurologist. Finally, only 37% of the headache visits involved a prescription of an evidence-based medication. The authors conclude that some sociodemographic disparities exist in pediatric headache care across the United States.
Stevens
Jack
J
Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA. Jack.Stevens@nationwidechildrens.org
Harman
Jeffrey
J
Pakalnis
Ann
A
Lo
Warren
W
Prescod
Jessica
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D009462:Neurology / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data