title: Factors related to receipt of well-child visits in insured children.
abstract: Our objective was to identify factors related to receipt of the recommended number of well-child visits in insured children. We hypothesized parent insurance status would be related to receipt of well-child visits, with those with uninsured parents more likely to have fewer visits than recommended. Data for the study came from the 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Household Component. The sample included children <18 years of age with full-year insurance coverage and parents who were insured or uninsured the entire year. The outcome variable indicated whether children had received fewer than the recommended number of well-child visits in physician offices or outpatient departments. Parent, family, and child characteristics were measured. Forty-eight percent of the 4,650 children included in the study had fewer well-child visits than recommended. Children whose parents did not visit a physician during the year and children whose parents had not completed high school were more likely to miss recommended visits. Parent insurance status did not affect well-child visits. We identified child, family, and parent factors influencing well-child visits in insured children, including the parent's own use of physician visits. Contrary to our hypothesis, well-child visits were not influenced by parent insurance status. Determining which insured children are at greater risk of missing recommended well-child visits aids policymakers in identifying those who may benefit from interventions to improve use of preventive care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Services Research, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, 115 S. Grand Ave, S514 Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA, amber-goedken@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Amber M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Goedken
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Urmie
authors.forename: Linnea A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Polgreen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007348:Insurance, Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States