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Biomedical subjects

Matthew M Davis

Publications and source records attributed to Matthew M Davis.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Factors associated with chronic conditions among children in foster care.

The population of children in foster care is rapidly growing. Previous local and state-level analyses have measured the prevalence of chronic conditions among such children to be from 44%-82%. The study objective was to identify factors associated with chronic conditions among a nationally representative sample of children in foster care for one year. The authors analyzed data from The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), Wave 1, the first national dataset of children in the child welfare system. In regression analysis, factors significantly associated with having a chronic condition included: child age under 2 years, caregiver race/ethnicity other than Hispanic, and relatively few household members. Discussion includes consideration of chronic conditions in this high-risk population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Variation in the use of intracranial-pressure monitoring and mortality in critically ill children with meningitis in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to describe patient and hospital characteristics associated with the use of intracranial pressure monitors and outcomes in critically ill children with meningitis. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of children 0 to 17 years of age hospitalized with meningitis and requiring mechanical ventilation using the 1997 and 2000 Kids' Inpatient Database. We generated national estimates of rates of intracranial pressure monitoring and in-hospital mortality by patient and hospital characteristics, and compared in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, and total charges for children who received an intracranial pressure monitor with those who did not. RESULTS: There were an estimated 1067 and 1170 hospitalizations nationally for childhood meningitis requiring mechanical ventilation in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Most (79%) of the hospitalizations involved infants. Overall, intracranial-pressure monitors were used in 7% of hospitalizations for meningitis, with the highest rates in children aged 5 to 17 years and lowest rates in children <1 year. In-hospital mortality was 19.6%, highest in children aged 5 to 17 years and in children with pneumococcal infections. In multivariate regression analyses, intracranial pressure monitor use was positively associated with age, patient volume, and hospitals located in the West census region. In-hospital mortality was associated with increasing age, hospitalization in the year 2000, self-pay/other insurance status, and pneumococcal meningitis. There was no difference in hospital mortality associated with use of intracranial pressure monitors, but both length of stay and log-transformed total hospital charges were significantly higher in the group that received an intracranial-pressure monitor. CONCLUSION: Intracranial pressure monitoring for the treatment of critically ill children with meningitis varies by census region, the number of cases treated, and patient age. The use of intracranial pressure monitoring was not statistically associated with mortality in this national sample.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Bullying and peer victimization among children with special health care needs.

BACKGROUND: Dr Van Cleave's current address is Department of Pediatrics, Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, 50 Staniford St, Room 901, Boston, MA 02114. The association between bullying, being bullied, or being a bully/victim and having a special health care need has not been well described in a national sample of children with a broad variety of special needs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the prevalence of bullying, being bullied, or being a bully/victim in children with special health care needs and associations of behaviors with particular types of special needs. DESIGN: We performed a secondary data analysis using the National Survey of Children's Health, a nationally representative telephone survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics of >102,000 US households. METHODS: We measured associations between having a special health care need and being a victim of bullying, bullying other children, and being a bully/victim in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. Multiple logistic-regression models were used to examine the association of children with special health care needs overall, and of particular special needs, with the bullying measures. RESULTS: Overall, children with special health care needs were 21% of the population. In multivariate models adjusting for sociodemographic factors, being a child with special health care needs was associated with being bullied but not with bullying or being a bully/victim. Having a chronic behavioral, emotional, or developmental problem was associated with bullying others and with being a bully/victim. CONCLUSIONS: Having a special health care need generally is associated with being bullied, and having a behavioral, emotional, or developmental problem is associated with bullying others and being a bully/victim. These findings may help pediatricians, mental health providers, and schools use targeted screening and interventions to address bullying for children with special health care needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Successes and remaining challenges after 10 years of varicella vaccination in the USA.

Beginning in 1995, universal varicella vaccination was recommended in the USA for all children aged 12-18 months, and all susceptible adolescents and adults. Many physicians were initially sceptical about the need to prevent primary varicella. However, with passage of state daycare and school entry mandates for varicella immunization, national varicella vaccination rates increased to approximately 90% by 2004. Several studies have demonstrated concomitant reductions in varicella-related healthcare utilization, costs and varicella-related mortality among children in the vaccinated age group, as well as adults. Remaining challenges include: first, outbreaks of 'breakthrough' varicella in vaccinated populations, which may prompt a second-dose recommendation, and second, possible increases in the incidence of secondary varicella (zoster) among adults whose natural immunity may wane in the absence of endemic varicella. The latter concern highlights the importance of a promising new varicella vaccine for older adults that may be licensed and recommended in the next 2 years.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence and determinants of insulin resistance among U.S. adolescents: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the distribution of insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and associations of HOMA-IR with sex, race/ethnicity, age, and weight status, as measured by BMI, among U.S. adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Of 4,902 adolescents aged 12-19 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002, analysis was performed for a nationally representative subsample of 1,802 adolescents without diabetes who had fasting laboratory measurements. The main outcome measure was HOMA-IR, calculated from fasting insulin and glucose and log transformed for multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: In adjusted regression models that included age and weight status, girls had higher HOMA-IR than boys and Mexican-American children had higher HOMA-IR levels than white children. There were no significant differences in adjusted HOMA-IR between black and white children. Obese children (BMI >/=95th percentile) had significantly higher levels of HOMA-IR compared with children of normal weight (BMI <85th percentile) in adjusted comparisons (mean HOMA-IR 4.93 [95% CI 4.56-5.35] vs. 2.30 [2.21-2.39], respectively). Weight status was by far the most important determinant of insulin resistance, accounting for 29.1% of the variance in HOMA-IR. The prevalence of insulin resistance in obese adolescents was 52.1% (95% CI 44.5-59.8). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity in U.S. adolescents represents the most important risk factor for insulin resistance, independent of sex, age, or race/ethnicity. The prevalence of insulin resistance in obese children foreshadows a worrisome trend for the burden of type 2 diabetes in the U.S.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Overcoming barriers to adherence to HPV vaccination recommendations.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a critical factor in the development of cervical cancer and can lead to genital warts and other clinical sequelae. Two vaccines against HPV have been developed recently that have shown to be safe and effective. The use of HPV vaccines holds promise for alleviating the burden of illness related to HPV infection. However, barriers specific to HPV vaccines, as well as barriers related to adolescent vaccination in general, may pose challenges to widespread implementation. Among these are: (1) lack of knowledge among the US population about HPV transmission and its relation to cervical cancer and other anogenital diseases; (2) parental concerns about vaccines in general and about vaccinating minors against sexually transmitted diseases; (3) financing by the government and private insurers for newly recommended vaccines; (4) challenges related to adolescents' healthcare-seeking behavior and health insurance coverage; and (5) barriers related to the dynamics of HPV infection (eg, protection against only certain types of HPV, duration of immunity, immunization schedules). Addressing these concerns will be critical in effective implementation of HPV vaccines and, potentially, vaccines, against other sexually transmitted diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Delivery of influenza vaccine to non-elderly persons with cardiovascular disease, with varying national supply of vaccine: a decision analysis.

Influenza immunization rates among non-elderly persons at high-risk for influenza are far below target levels in the United States. Provision of influenza vaccine at subspecialty practices can target high-risk patients, particularly during influenza vaccine shortages. We conducted a decision analysis to explore the potential effects on non-elderly cardiac patients' immunization rates of improving vaccine availability, standing orders rates, and physicians' vaccine recommendation rates in cardiology, primary care, and other medical subspecialty outpatient practices. We considered two supply circumstances (sufficient versus 50% of needed supply), and also incorporated community and hospital based vaccine delivery as well as patient acceptance in the model. With sufficient vaccine supply, optimized performance of cardiology practices (maximum vaccine availability, strong physician recommendations, and standing orders) yielded greater improvement in vaccine coverage rate than with separately optimized performance in primary care, pulmonology, or endocrinology practices. With only 50% of needed vaccine supply, reallocation of doses from community sites to primary care and cardiology, pulmonology, and endocrine offices yielded higher estimated immunization rates in the target population than strategies without reallocation. Only with simultaneous interventions across primary care, subspecialty care, inpatient, and community domains did immunization rates exceed 60%. Targeted interventions to optimize delivery of influenza vaccine in cardiology practices may be the most effective means of raising vaccine coverage levels among non-elderly cardiovascular patients, in times of varying national vaccine supply.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Associations of daycare and school entry vaccination requirements with varicella immunization rates.

School and daycare entry requirements have been credited with increasing immunization rates among school-age children, but no prior study has assessed the nationwide effects of entry requirements while controlling for individual, family, and household characteristics. The 2002 National Immunization Survey (NIS) is a nationally representative annual survey that includes provider record-verified immunization dates for 20,546 children aged 19-35 months without prior history of varicella. In weighted bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, we examined the association of state entry mandate implementation with children's up-to-date (UTD) status for varicella vaccine, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics of children, mothers, and household income and for children's UTD status for other recommended vaccines. In this national sample representative of 5.6 million children, 83.2% (95% CI: 82.3%-84.1%) were UTD for varicella vaccine. Between 1997 and 2002 inclusive, 33 states and the District of Columbia had implemented school and/or daycare entry immunization mandates for varicella. In bivariate analyses, 84.9% (83.9%-85.9%) of children in states with varicella entry mandates were UTD, compared to 76.8% (75.3%-78.4%) of children in states without such mandates. In multivariate analyses controlling for child and family characteristics, children living in states with varicella entry mandates remained significantly more likely to be UTD for varicella than children in states without mandates. These findings indicate that immunization entry requirements are associated with higher immunization rates among preschool-age children, and suggest that the effects of entry requirements are independent of other individual and household factors associated with childhood immunization.

Chickenpox Vaccine↗
PubMed2005

Provider response to different formats of the adult immunization schedule.

BACKGROUND: Providers' failure to administer vaccines in accordance with established recommendations is a well-recognized barrier to national immunization efforts. This study evaluated the ease of use of two different formats of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) adult immunization schedule by physicians in private practice, where the majority of adult immunizations are administered. METHODS: A series of focus groups was conducted with 94 physicians and other clinical staff in 11 private practices (family medicine and internal medicine) in six U.S. cities. Each session was based on a structured set of questions that explored barriers to adult immunizations, followed by three mock clinical scenarios to examine how each of two graphical depictions of the 2003-2004 adult immunization schedule (one from the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the other from the Immunization Action Coalition) might facilitate assessments of recommended immunizations. Group dialogue and individual participants' written responses to the scenarios and the alternate schedule formats were analyzed. RESULTS: Providers perceived multiple barriers to adult immunization independent of immunization schedule formats, chiefly patients' low interest in immunization and refusal of vaccines. Most participants were not familiar with either format of CDC's adult immunization schedule before the study, but quickly developed strong preferences for one versus the other (usually the second format that they encountered). About half of the providers changed their vaccine recommendations for clinical scenarios when they consulted either schedule format, although some of the changes were not clinically appropriate. Participants suggested several ways to enhance the availability of the information contained in the schedule formats, especially through electronic means. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative study suggests ways in which graphic depictions of an adult immunization schedule may address adult immunization barriers. Greater provider familiarity with schedule formats will be critical to their appropriate application in clinical encounters.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The relationship between the location of pediatric intensive care unit facilities and child death from trauma: a county-level ecologic study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the relationship between the location of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) facilities and county-level child death from trauma in the contiguous USA. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional ecologic study using county-level data on death due to trauma in children 0 to 14 years of age from 1996 to 1998. These data were linked to 1997 county-level data on availability of PICU facilities. RESULTS: In 1997, PICU facilities were present in 9% of USA counties. There were 18,337 childhood deaths from trauma in the study period. The presence of PICU facilities in a county was associated with lower mortality from trauma (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.72; 95% CI 0.67-0.78) compared to counties without PICU facilities. After controlling for residence in rural and low-income counties, and the presence of adult medicosurgical intensive care units, the presence of PICU facilities in a county remained associated with lower rates of death from trauma (IRR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.75-0.89). CONCLUSION: The presence of PICU facilities is related to lower mortality rates due to traumatic injuries at the county level. This finding may reflect the concentration of pediatric subspecialty care in counties with PICUs. This association merits further study with individual-level observations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Factors associated with non-attendance at pediatric subspecialty asthma clinics.

BACKGROUND: Children with Medicaid insurance are less likely to receive subspecialty asthma care than non-Medicaid patients. However, it is not clear if such disparities are due to non-attendance at scheduled visits by patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with non-attendance at scheduled visits for pediatric subspecialty asthma care. DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of children with scheduled visits at three asthma clinics during a 12-month period. Our outcome of interest was patient non-attendance for a scheduled visit, controlling for age, gender, new patient status, type of insurance, severity of illness, distance to clinic, clinic site, month, and weekday of scheduled visit. We used logistic regression for multivariate comparisons and controlled for clustering effects for children with multiple scheduled visits. RESULTS: There were 1236 scheduled visits for 857 unique patients. Median age: 7 years (IQR 3-11); median distance traveled: 24 miles (IQR 13-41); 20% had Medicaid insurance. The non-attendance rate was 8%. In multivariate analysis, Medicaid insurance (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.45-3.74) and visits scheduled in September-December (3.26, 2.08-5.11) were associated with non-attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Children with Medicaid insurance are less likely to attend scheduled visits for subspecialty asthma care, controlling for seasonal variation. Programs designed to address disparities in pediatric asthma outcomes regarding subspecialist care may improve their effectiveness by addressing barriers to attendance and anticipating poor attendance in the fall season.

Appointments and Schedules↗
PubMed2005

Hospital decision-making regarding the smallpox pre-event vaccination program.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the factors underlying the decision by U.S. hospitals to participate or not in the U.S. Smallpox Pre-Event Vaccination Program (SPVP). METHODS: We conducted semistructured telephone interviews with a convenience sample of 123 hospital decision-makers in nine states between June and November 2003. RESULTS: Within our sample, 88 hospitals (72%) decided to participate in the SPVP and 35 (28%) decided against doing so. Nearly all hospital decision-makers considered the risk of a smallpox outbreak, risks associated with vaccination, hospital costs, and the reaction of hospital stakeholders. However, these factors often were weighed differently by hospitals that decided to participate compared to those that did not. Fewer than half of all hospitals reported that public health officials played an important role in their decision-making process, but those that did felt the influence of public health officials was positive. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening the linkage between the public and private health sectors may help to address some of the barriers to broader participation by hospitals in the SPVP and foster the success of smallpox outbreak response preparedness efforts in the future.

Community-Institutional Relations↗
PubMed2005

A national survey of pediatric critical care resources in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize resources available for the care of critically ill and injured children in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: In January through May 2004, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of medical directors of intensive care facilities for children. RESULTS: Pediatric critical care medical directors from 257 of 337 eligible hospitals responded to the survey (response rate: 76%). The median number of beds was 12 (interquartile range: 8-17 beds), with a median of 58 admissions per PICU bed (interquartile range: 44-70 admissions per PICU bed) in 2003. The median numbers of admissions per PICU bed were not statistically different among PICUs of different sizes. Fewer than 6% of hospitals shared PICU space with space for critically ill adults. The smallest units (1-6 beds) had higher physician and nurse staffing ratios per PICU bed. Advanced therapeutic technology, particularly renal replacement and inhaled nitric oxide therapy, was significantly more likely to be available in larger PICUs (> or =7 beds). CONCLUSIONS: PICUs with the fewest beds had higher physician and nurse staffing ratios per PICU bed and lower resource capacity for high-intensity renal and respiratory therapy. The impact of PICU resource availability on referral patterns and outcomes of pediatric critical illnesses warrants additional study.

Child↗