title: Individual and practice characteristics associated with physician provision of recommended care for children with special health care needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine physician and practice characteristics associated with recommended care practices for children with special health care needs (CSHCN).
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of primary care physicians (PCPs) in Arkansas with a Medicaid caseload of ≥100 children was conducted. Predictor variables included physician specialty field, demographics, practice type, and percentage of patients with public insurance. Multivariate regression analyses described predictors associated with recommended care practices informed by literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 565 mailed surveys, 203 (36%) were returned. Solo/2-person practice was associated with recommended care practices, including written care plan (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 9.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.61-35.8), providing extra time (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI = 1.47-8.43), and providing community referrals (AOR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.33-7.02). Female gender was associated with extra time (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.07-4.78) and providing community referrals (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.30-6.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies should examine characteristics of smaller practices that drive implementation of recommended care practices.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. dzkuo@uams.edu
authors.forename: Dennis Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Katherine H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Casey
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008484:Medicaid; D020380:Needs Assessment; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States