Guess Who's Coming to Clinic? Companions in a Pediatric Urology Clinic

Abstract

IntroductionUnderstanding who accompanies children to clinic visits is necessary to engage stakeholders and tailor communication and educational materials. We undertook this study to describe the clinical companions for new patients in a general pediatric urology clinic. MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study included all new urology patients aged less than 18 y at a single freestanding quaternary care children's hospital in selected months of 2019 and 2022. Data were collected on patient demographics, diagnosis, level of community disadvantage, and companion present. The number and identities of companions of patients living in more and less disadvantaged neighborhoods were compared. ResultsOf 1940 patients, 1014 (52%) were accompanied by mothers alone, 266 (14%) by fathers alone, and 580 (30%) by both mother and father. Mothers were at 85% of clinical visits and fathers at 45% of visits. The likelihood of having one versus two parents present was similar in more and less disadvantaged areas (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 0.80-1.55, P = 0.53). When one parent was present, the odds of being accompanied by the mother was lower for patients living in Area Deprivation Index 1-2 (less disadvantaged areas; OR = 0.38, 95% confidence interval: 0.23-0.62, P = 0.0001), and for the father to accompany children aged 12 y and more than infants (OR = 2.16, P = 0.0005) if there was only one parent present. ConclusionsOur findings highlight opportunities to engage nonmaternal caregivers in pediatric urologic care, to further explore parental decisions around appointment attendance, and to optimize how clinical information is delivered to caregivers who are and are not present during appointments.