Weight change in pediatric TennCare recipients referred to a commercial weight loss program.

Background: The epidemic of overweight and obesity in the United States is not limited to adults but also affects children and adolescents. Low-income children are disparately affected because they have an elevated risk for developing obesity. Effective interventions are urgently needed to prevent and treat obesity in children.

Febrile seizures and measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine: what do primary care physicians think?

Purpose: Measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine is associated with increased febrile seizure risk compared with measles-mumps-rubella and varicella vaccine given separately (MMR+V) in children 12-15-month old. We assessed knowledge regarding MMRV and febrile seizures, intended practices, and factors influencing the decision to recommend MMRV.

Methods: National survey administered 10/2008-1/2009 of US pediatricians (Peds) and family physicians (FP).

Effectiveness and net cost of reminder/recall for adolescent immunizations.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of reminder/recall (R/R) for immunizing adolescents in private pediatric practices and to describe the associated costs and revenues.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 4 private pediatric practices in metropolitan Denver. In each practice, 400 adolescents aged 11 to 18 years who had not received 1 or more targeted vaccinations (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis, meningococcal conjugate, or first dose of human papillomavirus vaccine for female patients) were randomly selected and randomized to intervention (2 letters and 2 telephone calls) or control (usual care) groups.

Prevalence of parental concerns about childhood vaccines: the experience of primary care physicians.

Background: Little is known about the effects of increased parental vaccine safety concerns on physicians' vaccine communication attitudes and practices.

Purpose: To assess among pediatricians and family medicine (FM) physicians: (1) prevalence of parental requests to deviate from recommended vaccine schedules; (2) responses to such requests; and (3) attitudes about the burden and success of vaccine communications with parents.

Methods: Survey of nationally representative samples of pediatricians and FM physicians (N=696) conducted during February to May 2009 with analysis in 2010.