Kori B. Flower

Health Status and Health Care Expenditures in a Nationally Representative Sample: How Do Overweight and Healthy-Weight Children Compare?

OBJECTIVE. Childhood overweight is epidemic in the United States. Although limited, previous studies suggest that overweight children have chronic health problems. A more complete understanding of the effect of overweight on childrens health requires a nationally representative, population-based sample. Our objective was to examine whether overweight children have (1) more chronic conditions, (2) poorer health, and (3) greater health care expenditures than healthy-weight children. PATIENTS AND METHODS. This was a cross-sectional study of children aged 6 to 17 years participating in 1 of 2 nationally representative surveys of civilian, noninstitutionalized Americans, the 2001–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and 2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The main outcome measures were prevalence of dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension; self-reported health status; and health care expenditures. RESULTS. Overweight children, compared with healthy-weight children, have significantly increased risk for high total cholesterol levels (15.7% vs 7.2%), high low-density lipoprotein (11.4% vs 7.7%) or borderline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (20.2% vs 12.5%), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (15.5% vs 3.0%), high triglyceride levels (6.7% vs 2.1%), high fasting glucose levels (2.9% vs 0.0%), high glycohemoglobin levels (3.7% vs 0.5%), and high systolic blood pressure (9.0% vs 1.6%). Overweight children, compared with healthy-weight children, demonstrate significantly lower prevalence of excellent health (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 36.5% vs 53.3%; Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: 42.8% vs 55.6%). These differences persist in multiple regression models that control for potential confounders. In adjusted analyses, expenditures were comparable between overweight and healthy-weight children. CONCLUSIONS. Our data demonstrate that overweight children have more chronic conditions and poorer health but have health care expenditures that are no greater than those for healthy-weight children. Addressing the health care needs of overweight children may prevent the development of chronic conditions and improve health status. These findings demonstrate the need to more thoroughly consider whether (1) overweight children have appropriate access to care, (2) physicians fully recognize the impact of overweight, and (3) physicians have resources to address overweight.

Using BMI to Determine Cardiovascular Risk in Childhood: How Do the BMI Cutoffs Fare?

OBJECTIVE: Although adverse health outcomes are increased among children with BMI above the 85th (overweight) and 95th (obese) percentiles, previous studies have not clearly defined the BMI percentile at which adverse health outcomes begin to increase. We examined whether the existing BMI percentile cutoffs are optimal for defining increased risk for dyslipidemia, dysglycemia, and hypertension. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2006. Studied were 8216 children aged 6 to 17 years, representative of the US population. BMI was calculated by using measured height and weight and converted to percentiles for age in months and gender. Outcome measures (dyslipidemia, dysglycemia, and hypertension) were based on laboratory and physical examination results; these were analyzed as both continuous and categorical outcomes. RESULTS: Significant increases for total cholesterol values and prevalence of abnormal cholesterol begin at the 80th percentile. Significant increases in glycohemoglobin values and prevalence of abnormal values begin at the 99th percentile. Consistent significant increases in the prevalence of high or borderline systolic blood pressure begin at the 90th percentile. CONCLUSIONS: Intervening for overweight children and their health requires clinical interventions that target the right children. On the basis of our data, a judicious approach to screening could include consideration of lipid screening for children beginning at the 80th percentile but for dysglycemia at the 99th percentile. Current definitions of overweight and obese may be more useful for general recognition of potential health problems and discussions with parents and children about the need to address childhood obesity.

The bright futures training intervention project: Implementing systems to support preventive and developmental services in practice

OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of implementing a bundle of strategies to facilitate the use of Bright Futures recommendations and to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified learning collaborative in improving preventive and developmental care. METHODS. Fifteen pediatric primary care practices from 9 states participated in a 9-month learning collaborative. Support to practices included a toolkit, 2 workshops, training in quality-improvement methods, monthly conference calls and data feedback, and a listserv moderated by faculty. Aggregated medical chart reviews and practice self-assessments on 6 key office system components were compared before and after the intervention. RESULTS. Office system changes most frequently adopted were use of recall/reminder systems (87%), a checklist to link to community resources (80%), and systematic identification of children with special health care needs (80%). From baseline to follow-up, increases were observed in the use of recall/reminder systems, the proportion of childrens charts that had a preventive services prompting system, and the families who were asked about special health care needs. Of 21 possible office system components, the median number used increased from 10 to 15. Comparing scores between baseline and follow-up for each practice site, the change was significant. Teams reported that the implementation of office systems was facilitated by the perception that a component could be applied quickly and/or easily. Barriers to implementation included costs, the time required, and lack of agreement with the recommendations. CONCLUSIONS. This project demonstrated the feasibility of implementing specific strategies for improving preventive and developmental care for young children in a wide variety of practices. It also confirmed the usefulness of a modified learning collaborative in achieving these results. This model may be useful for disseminating office system improvements to other settings that provide care for young children.

Pediatrician Maintenance of Certification Using American Board of Pediatrics' Performance Improvement Modules

BACKGROUND From 2010 to 2014, pediatricians completed Part 4 Maintenance of Certification (MOC) through practice- or organization-developed quality improvement (QI) activities approved by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). Organization-developed activities were online modules, such as the ABPs Performance Improvement Modules (PIMs), through which pediatricians implemented QI strategies in practice and reported quality measures. OBJECTIVES Aim 1 was to assess the proportion of pediatricians who completed practice- vs organization-developed QI activities for Part 4 MOC and to test the relationship between activities and pediatrician demographics. Aim 2 was to assess the relationship between PIM completion and improvement in care processes and outcomes as determined by PIM quality measures. METHODS For aim 1, using deidentified demographic data from the ABP, we summarized QI activity completion and performed bivariate testing by pediatrician demographics. For aim 2, using deidentified parent and pediatrician-reported quality measures from the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Asthma, Hand Hygiene, and Influenza PIMs, we used 2-sample tests of proportions to calculate pre-post changes in quality measures. RESULTS For aim 1, of 50,433 pediatricians who completed Part 4 MOC from 2010 to 2014, 22% completed practice-developed and 78% organization-developed activities. More pediatricians completed organization-developed activities, regardless of age, gender, or subspecialty status. The majority (73%) of pediatricians who completed organization-developed activities completed ABP PIMs. For aim 2, PIM completion was associated with improvement on nearly all pediatrician- and parent-reported quality measures. CONCLUSIONS At the outset of the Part 4 MOC system, pediatricians most commonly completed online, organization-developed activities. Pediatricians and parents reported improvements in care processes and outcomes associated with PIMs, suggesting PIMs can be an effective means of facilitating practice improvement.

A Pilot Quality Improvement Collaborative to Improve Safety Net Dental Access for Pregnant Women and Young Children

Objectives To determine acceptability and feasibility of a quality improvement (QI) collaborative in safety net dental practices, and evaluate its effects on financial stability, access, efficiency, and care for pregnant women and young children. Methods Five safety net dental practices participated in a 15-month learning collaborative utilizing business assessments, QI training, early childhood oral health training, and prenatal oral health training. Practices collected monthly data on: net revenue, no-show rates, total encounters, and number of encounters for young children and pregnant women. We analyzed quantitative data using paired t-tests before and after the collaborative and collected supplemental qualitative feedback from clinic staff through focus groups and directed email. Results All mean measures improved, including: higher monthly revenue (

Neighborhood Commute to Work Times and Self-Reported Caregiver Health Behaviors and Food Access

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Preventing and Treating Obesity: Pediatricians' Self-Efficacy, Barriers, Resources, and Advocacy

33,102, p = 0.37), decreased no-show rate (17.7–14.3%, p = 0.11), higher monthly dental health encounters (283–328, p = 0.08), and higher monthly encounters for young children (8.8–10.5, p = 0.65), and pregnant women (2.8–9.7, p = 0.29). Results varied by practice, with some demonstrating largest increases in encounters for young children and others pregnant women. Focus group participants reported that the collaborative improved access for pregnant women and young children, and that QI methods were often new and difficult. Conclusion for practice Participation by safety net dental practices in a QI collaborative is feasible and acceptable. Individual sites saw greater improvements in different outcomes areas, based on their own structures and needs. Future efforts should focus on specific needs of each dental practice and should offer additional QI training.

Body mass index charts: Useful yet underused

OBJECTIVE Time spent commuting is associated with obesity. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between neighborhood-level commute to work (CTW) times and self-reported health behaviors and food access. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of caregivers with infants as part of the Greenlight Study, a multisite obesity trial in Chapel Hill, New York City, Nashville, and Miami. ZIP code-based commuting estimates were determined using the US Census American Community Survey. Self-reported health behaviors and food access data were collected by directed interview. Logistic and linear regression models were used to determine associations between neighborhood CTW times and health behaviors and food access. RESULTS The average neighborhood CTW time for all ZIP codes was 29 minutes (n = 846). Caregivers in longer CTW time neighborhoods were more likely to endorse fewer food choices (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.69; P = .001) and difficulty accessing markets with fresh produce (AOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.02-2.25; P = .04). Neighborhood CTW time >30 minutes was associated with less caregiver physical activity (AOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.34-0.98; P = .044). Neighborhood CTW time was inversely related to infant television time (adjusted mean, 399 minutes/day for ≤30 minutes and 256 minutes/day for >30 minutes; P = .025). New York families in longer CTW neighborhoods were more likely to report difficulty accessing markets with fresh produce (AOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.03-3.14; P = .039). CONCLUSIONS Neighborhood CTW time is associated with several self-reported health behaviors and perceived food access among caregivers with children. Neighborhood CTW times may represent city-specific features, including transportation infrastructure, which may impact the health of families.