Measuring family HRQoL spillover effects using direct health utility assessment.

Background: Applications of cost-effectiveness analysis do not typically incorporate effects on caregiver quality of life despite increasing evidence that these effects are measurable.

Methods: Using a national sample of US adults, we conducted 2 cross-sectional surveys during December 2011 and January 2012. One version asked respondents to value their own experience as the family member of a person with a chronic illness (experienced sample), and the other version asked respondents to value hypothetical scenarios describing the experience of having a family member with a chronic illness (community sample).

Variation in the spillover effects of illness on parents, spouses, and children of the chronically ill.

Background: Given the broad scope of the spillover effects of illness, it is important to characterize the variability in these outcomes to identify relationship types in which secondary impacts of illness are particularly important to include in health economic evaluations.

Purpose: To examine heterogeneity in spillover effects of chronic conditions on family members by type of familial relationship with patient.

Methods: Adults (aged ≥18 years) and adolescents (aged 13-17 years) who had a parent, spouse, or child in their household with a chronic condition (Alzheimer's disease/dementia, arthritis, cancer, or depression) were recruited from a US national panel to participate in an on-line survey.

Identifying children with chronic conditions for influenza vaccination using a statewide immunization registry: initial experiences of primary care providers.

Context: Children with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk of complications from influenza, yet their vaccination rates are low. The Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), a statewide immunization registry, was expanded in 2006 to include an indicator, based on Medicaid administrative claims, that prompts providers to offer influenza vaccine to high-risk children (ie, those with chronic conditions).

Objective: To assess primary care providers' experiences with the MCIR high-risk indicator.

Using Medicaid claims to identify children with asthma.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of using administrative data from state-managed programs to identify children with asthma in a statewide immunization information system. We wished to understand the degree to which alternative asthma case definitions applied to administrative data influence the accuracy of cases identified in an immunization information system.

Design & Setting: Children aged 2 to 18 years were sequentially classified into 3-case definition groups on the basis of Michigan Department of Community Health administrative data (2005-2006): (1) children with a Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) Program qualifying diagnosis of asthma (CSHCS cases); (2) those having 1 or more asthma medication claims (Rx cases); or (3) those without asthma medications having 1 or more health services claim reporting an asthma diagnosis code (Dx cases).

Community-based values for 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 illnesses and vaccination-related adverse events.

Objective: To evaluate community-based values for avoiding pandemic influenza (A) H1N1 (pH1N1) illness and vaccination-related adverse events in adults and children.

Methods: Adult community members were randomly selected from a nationally representative research panel to complete an internet survey (response rate = 65%; n = 718). Respondents answered a series of time trade-off questions to value four hypothetical health state scenarios for varying ages (1, 8, 35, or 70 years): uncomplicated pH1N1 illness, pH1N1 illness-related hospitalization, severe allergic reaction to the pH1N1 vaccine, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Intracranial pressure monitoring in childhood meningitis with coma: a national survey of neurosurgeons in the United States.

Objectives: To describe the beliefs and attitudes of U.S. neurosurgeons regarding the use of intracranial pressure monitors among comatose children with meningitis.

Pediatric nurse practitioners: roles and scope of practice.

Background: There are ∼ 13,000 pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) in the United States. PNPs have been suggested as professionals who could provide care to the growing cadre of children with chronic illnesses and expand the pool of subspecialty care providers. Little is known about current roles of PNPs in primary or subspecialty care.

Pediatric physician assistants: distribution and scope of practice.

Background: Physician assistants (PAs) are licensed to practice with physician supervision. PAs do not specialize or subspecialize as part of their formal standard training; consequently, their license is not limited to a specific specialty. As such, PAs can, and do, change their practice settings at will.

Neonatal nurse practitioners: distribution, roles and scope of practice.

Objective: We sought to determine the distribution and scope of practice of the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) workforce across the United States.

Methods: To determine distribution, we used counts of certified NNPs from the National Certification Corp (Chicago, IL). We calculated state NNP/child population ratios as the number of NNPs divided by the state population 0 to 17 years of age.

Hospitalists' involvement in pediatrics training: perspectives from pediatric residency program and clerkship directors.

Purpose: To explore the use and perceived impact of pediatric hospitalists as teaching attendings among pediatric residency and clerkship programs.

Method: Between November 2007 and February 2008, the authors conducted a mail-based survey of all pediatric residency program directors (170) and pediatric clerkship directors (131) in the United States as identified by the Association of Pediatric Program Directors and Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics. The surveys focused on the responsibilities of pediatric hospitalists in training programs and their perceived impact on the roles of pediatric residents and medical students.

Permanent pediatric diplomate awareness of and perspectives on maintenance of certification.

Objective: Since diplomates of the American Board of Pediatrics with permanent certificates will not be required to participate in the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, we determined the perceptions of permanent certificate holders about MOC and their degree of interest in participation.

Study Design: We conducted a 12-item mail survey of 1693 diplomates with permanent certificates. Frequency distributions were calculated for all survey items.

Basis for immunization recommendations among countries of the worldHealth Organization European region.

Despite World Health Organization (WHO) goals to reduce the incidence of several vaccine preventable diseases across the European region, the adoption of new vaccines has been slower than expected. To identify factors that influence the decision to recommend new vaccines, especially hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae, type b (Hib) vaccines, we studied the factors used in immunization decision-making across this region. A structured questionnaire was sent to the Immunization Program Manager of each country with the option to return the completed survey by e-mail, fax or complete a web-based survey.