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Caring for Young Children with Asthma: Perspectives from Urban Community Health Centers

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Abstract

Asthma disproportionately affects low-income, minority youth, with notable disparities among children <5 years of age. Understanding the perceptions of urban community health centers (CHCs) regarding treating young children with asthma could improve care for these patients. This study uses data from semi-structured focus groups with staff from eight urban CHCs. Themes emerged in three domains. Within the parent/family domain, providers noted low rates of follow-up visits, low health literacy, and—for young children specifically—misunderstanding about the diagnosis. At the CHC level, providers needed more staff, space, and comfort with applying the guidelines to infants and young children. CHCs reported asthma registries, population health oversight, and an asthma champion improved care. At the system level, providers wanted improved communication with emergency departments and community outreach programs. Reducing these multi-level barriers may improve care.

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Acknowledgements

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U34HL130555. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street Talbot 3W, Boston, MA, 02118, USA

    Ellen Childs & Mari-Lynn Drainoni

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Margaret A. Laws, Megan Sandel & Robyn T. Cohen

  3. Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Mari-Lynn Drainoni

  4. Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, ENRM VA Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA

    Mari-Lynn Drainoni

  5. Division of Healthy Homes and Community Supports, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston, MA, USA

    Anjali Nath

  6. Office of Health Equity, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston, MA, USA

    Margaret J. Reid

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  1. Ellen Childs
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Correspondence to Ellen Childs.

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Childs, E., Laws, M.A., Drainoni, ML. et al. Caring for Young Children with Asthma: Perspectives from Urban Community Health Centers. J Urban Health 94, 824–834 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-017-0186-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-017-0186-6

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