Unmet health care needs among CSHCN with neurologic conditions.
OBJECTIVE
Children with neurologic conditions require a variety of services. With this study we examined health care needs and unmet needs among children with neurologic conditions.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data reported by parents of 3- to 17-year-olds in the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs were analyzed. Demographic characteristics, health care needs, and unmet needs of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and neurologic conditions were descriptively compared with an independent referent group of children without special health care needs; statistical contrasts were performed as a function of the type (conditions included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM] or not) and number of reported neurologic conditions.


RESULTS
Compared with the parents of children without special health care needs, parents of CSHCN with neurologic conditions were more likely to report unmet health care needs for their child. After adjustment for demographic factors and severity of functional limitation, CSHCN with at least 2 conditions had more visits to a health care provider, needed more services, and reported more unmet needs than CSHCN with a single DSM condition. The magnitude of need among CSHCN was greatest among those with at least 1 of each type of neurologic condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Unmet health care needs exist among CSHCN with neurologic conditions and are particularly pronounced among children with a combination of both DSM and non-DSM disorders. The health care needs among CSHCN with multiple neurologic conditions may be better served by targeted efforts to improve care coordination.
Bitsko
Rebecca H
RH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Human Development and Disability, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. rhuotbitsko@cdc.gov
Visser
Susanna N
SN
Schieve
Laura A
LA
Ross
Danielle S
DS
Thurman
David J
DJ
Perou
Ruth
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology