African American parents’ partnership with their children’s healthcare providers

Abstract

African American children experience poorer health outcomes and their parents are often less satisfied with pediatric primary care, even after adjusting for difficulties in access because of insurance coverage. Horn et al from Children's National Medical Center performed a telephone survey of 425 African American parents whose children had a recent health visit in Washington, DC. They evaluated the factors that appeared to influence the parents' perceptions of the partnership. For example, parents seen in community health centers were more likely to report high partnership building compared with those seen at primary or hospital-based practices. There were other factors, such as parental education and the ethnicity of the provider, that had significant effects. The authors conclude that future studies should continue to evaluate these factors, with the goal of increasing partnership and improving healthcare outcomes.Article page 262▶ African American children experience poorer health outcomes and their parents are often less satisfied with pediatric primary care, even after adjusting for difficulties in access because of insurance coverage. Horn et al from Children's National Medical Center performed a telephone survey of 425 African American parents whose children had a recent health visit in Washington, DC. They evaluated the factors that appeared to influence the parents' perceptions of the partnership. For example, parents seen in community health centers were more likely to report high partnership building compared with those seen at primary or hospital-based practices. There were other factors, such as parental education and the ethnicity of the provider, that had significant effects. The authors conclude that future studies should continue to evaluate these factors, with the goal of increasing partnership and improving healthcare outcomes. Article page 262▶ African-American Parents’ Perceptions of Partnership with their Child’s Primary Care ProviderThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 159Issue 2PreviewTo identify family, provider, and healthcare setting characteristics associated with African-American parents’ perceptions of partnership with their child’s primary care provider. Full-Text PDF