Why parents seek medical evaluations for their children with mild acute illnesses

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2008 Apr;47(3):244-51. doi: 10.1177/0009922807308254. Epub 2007 Dec 5.

Abstract

The reasons underlying parents' decisions to seek medical evaluations for their mildly ill children are not well understood. This cross-sectional study tracked parents' requests for on-site medical evaluations at a sick child care program. A logistic regression model identified factors associated with parents' decisions to seek medical evaluations for their children based on the data from parent-completed questionnaires. A convenience sample of 196 parents completed all questionnaires; 62 (31.6%) parents sought medical evaluations. Parents were more likely to seek medical evaluations if they were concerned about missing work (odds ratio = 8.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.3-22.0; P = .0001), if they smoked (odds ratio = 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-12.4; P = .037), or if their spouse's highest educational attainment was some high school (odds ratio = 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-1.0; P = .044). The data highlight the problems working parents have in accessing health care during usual working hours and the potential value of convenient health care programs.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Decision Making
  • Employment
  • Female
  • Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Pediatrics / standards
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Socioeconomic Factors