Inequality in early childhood chronic health conditions requiring hospitalisation: A data linkage study of health service utilisation and costs.
access
cost
equality
private health care
public health care
Journal
Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
ISSN: 1365-3016
Titre abrégé: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8709766
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jan 2022
Jan 2022
Historique:
revised:
27
08
2021
received:
24
03
2021
accepted:
02
09
2021
pubmed:
23
11
2021
medline:
7
1
2022
entrez:
22
11
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions is poorly understood. To quantify the cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions. Cohort study using a whole-of-population linked administrative data for all births in Queensland, Australia, between July 2015 and July 2018. Socioeconomic status was defined by an areas-based measure, grouping children into quintiles from most disadvantaged (Q1) to least disadvantaged (Q5) based on their postcode at birth. Study outcomes included health service utilisation (inpatient, emergency department, outpatient, general practitioner, specialist, pathology and diagnostic imaging services) and healthcare costs. Of the 238,600 children included in the analysis, 10.4% had at least one chronic health condition. Children with chronic health conditions in Q1 had higher rates of inpatient (6.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.4, 6.7), emergency department (7.2, 95% CI 7.0, 7.5) and outpatient (20.3, 95% CI 19.4, 21.3) service use compared to children with chronic health conditions in Q5. They also had lower rates of general practitioner (37.5, 95% CI 36.7, 38.4), specialist (8.9, 95% CI 8.5, 9.3), pathology (10.7, 95% CI 10.2, 11.3), and diagnostic imaging (4.3, 95% CI 4.2,4.5) service use. Children with any chronic health condition in Q1 incurred lower median out-of-pocket fees than children in Q5 ($0 vs $741, respectively), lower median Medicare funding ($2710, vs $3408, respectively), and higher median public hospital funding ($31, 052 vs $23, 017, respectively). Children of most disadvantage are more likely to access public hospital provided services, which are accessible free of charge to patients. These children are less likely to access general practitioner, specialist, pathology and diagnostic imaging services; all of which are critical to the ongoing management of chronic health conditions, but often attract an out-of-pocket fee.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions is poorly understood.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions.
METHODS
METHODS
Cohort study using a whole-of-population linked administrative data for all births in Queensland, Australia, between July 2015 and July 2018. Socioeconomic status was defined by an areas-based measure, grouping children into quintiles from most disadvantaged (Q1) to least disadvantaged (Q5) based on their postcode at birth. Study outcomes included health service utilisation (inpatient, emergency department, outpatient, general practitioner, specialist, pathology and diagnostic imaging services) and healthcare costs.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Of the 238,600 children included in the analysis, 10.4% had at least one chronic health condition. Children with chronic health conditions in Q1 had higher rates of inpatient (6.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.4, 6.7), emergency department (7.2, 95% CI 7.0, 7.5) and outpatient (20.3, 95% CI 19.4, 21.3) service use compared to children with chronic health conditions in Q5. They also had lower rates of general practitioner (37.5, 95% CI 36.7, 38.4), specialist (8.9, 95% CI 8.5, 9.3), pathology (10.7, 95% CI 10.2, 11.3), and diagnostic imaging (4.3, 95% CI 4.2,4.5) service use. Children with any chronic health condition in Q1 incurred lower median out-of-pocket fees than children in Q5 ($0 vs $741, respectively), lower median Medicare funding ($2710, vs $3408, respectively), and higher median public hospital funding ($31, 052 vs $23, 017, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Children of most disadvantage are more likely to access public hospital provided services, which are accessible free of charge to patients. These children are less likely to access general practitioner, specialist, pathology and diagnostic imaging services; all of which are critical to the ongoing management of chronic health conditions, but often attract an out-of-pocket fee.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
156-166Subventions
Organisme : National Health and Medical Research Council
ID : GNT1159536
Organisme : National Health and Medical Research Council
ID : APP1143767
Organisme : Financial Markets Foundation for Children
Informations de copyright
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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