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First published on December 5, 2007, doi:10.1177/0009922807308254
Clinical Pediatrics 2008;47:244.
A more recent version of this article appeared on April 1, 2008
Why Parents Seek Medical Evaluations for Their Children With Mild Acute Illnesses
Robert G. Voigt, MD*,
Shirley K. Johnson, MS, RN, CPNP,
Andrew H. Hashikawa, MD,
Michael W. Mellon, PhD,
Lynnelle J. Campeau, BSN, RN,
Arthur R. Williams, PhD,
Barbara P. Yawn, MD, MS,
and
Young J. Juhn, MD, MPH
Mayo Clinic
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: voigt.robert{at}mayo.edu.
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Abstract |
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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 spouses 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.

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