Suboptimal asthma care for immigrant children
Author Information
Author(s): Urbanus-van Laar JJ, Nathalie de Koning, Niek S Klazinga, Karien Stronks
Primary Institution: Academic Medical Center-University of Amsterdam
Hypothesis
Are there ethnic differences in suboptimal asthma care for children with asthma exacerbations?
Conclusion
Ethnic inequalities in the scope and nature of suboptimal asthma care for children in the Netherlands seem to exist.
Supporting Evidence
- Two-thirds of the children received care that possibly or likely failed to prevent asthma exacerbations.
- Immigrant children, particularly from non-Western backgrounds, were more likely to receive suboptimal care.
- Suboptimal care included under-prescribing and lack of information exchange among healthcare providers.
Takeaway
The study found that immigrant children, especially those from non-Western backgrounds, often receive worse asthma care than Dutch children.
Methodology
An audit study was conducted involving children aged 6-16 who consulted for asthma exacerbations, assessing the quality of care based on clinical guidelines.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of ethnicity and reliance on medical records may introduce bias.
Limitations
The small sample size limited the ability to detect significant ethnic differences in care.
Participant Demographics
Participants included children aged 6-16, with a majority from Surinamese, Antillean, and other non-Western backgrounds.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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