title: A multi-factorial model for examining racial and ethnic disparities in acute asthma visits by children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Causes of children's asthma health disparities are complex. Parents' asthma illness representations may play a role.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to test a theoretically based, multi-factorial model for ethnic disparities in children's acute asthma visits through parental illness representations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structural equation modeling investigated the association of parental asthma illness representations, sociodemographic characteristics, health care provider factors, and social-environmental context with children's acute asthma visits among 309 White, Puerto Rican, and African American families was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five percent of the variance in illness representations and 30% of the variance in acute visits were accounted for. Statistically significant differences in illness representations were observed by ethnic group. Approximately 30% of the variance in illness representations was explained for whites, 23% for African Americans, and 26% for Puerto Ricans. The model accounted for >30% of the variance in acute visits for African Americans and Puerto Ricans but only 19% for the whites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The model provides preliminary support that ethnic heterogeneity in asthma illness representations affects children's health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University College of Nursing, 1595 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Arcoleo.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sidora-Arcoleo
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serebrisky
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D001249:Asthma / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People