Asthma
AHCPR Research on Caring for Children With Asthma
Child Health Highlights
Children and Asthma
Child Health Research Findings: Asthma/Respiratory Illness
Chronic Care for Low-Income Children with Asthma: Strategies for Improvement
Improving the Quality of Asthma Care: New Tools for States
Using Established Initiatives to Reduce Disparities in Pediatric Asthma
News and Numbers
Research Activities, February 2009:
Minority children with asthma frequently use emergency departments for care
Research Activities, December 2008:
Changing criteria in a definition of high-risk asthma may help pinpoint those who will need the most care
Research Activities, October 2008:
Children with asthma have more prescriptions filled when their health plans notify their doctors after a serious episode
Children are hospitalized less often for asthma but more have the disease
Research Activities, July 2008:
Children with asthma and flu are more likely to end up in the hospital
Research Activities, April 2008:
Modest health care quality gains outpaced by spending
Research Activities, March 2008:
Hospitalists can reduce hospital stays and costs for children with common pediatric conditions like asthma
Research Activities, February 2008:
Study of young Head Start children links overweight to worsened asthma
Research Activities, November 2007:
Local touchscreen computer kiosks can help parents in urban, low-income communities learn about their child's health
Research Activities, August 2007:
Rhinoviruses are associated with numerous hospitalizations of children under the age of 5 years, especially those with asthma
Research Activities, April 2007:
Use of asthma care guidelines reduces emergency visits and improves asthma care in children
Research Activities, March 2007:
Some pediatric offices may not be prepared to handle emergencies such as seizures or severe asthmatic episodes
Research Activities, January 2007:
Pediatric hospitalists are more likely than community pediatricians to use evidence-based care for hospitalized children
Research Activities, July 2006:
Puerto Rican children are diagnosed with asthma more often than other children
Enrollment in New York's State Children's Health Insurance Program improves asthma care quality and access
Parental use of a kiosk in the emergency department has the potential to improve asthma care
Research Activities, June 2006:
Interventions that improve asthma outcomes in clinical trials may not translate to the practice level
Research Activities, March 2006
Minority children living in public housing are more likely to suffer from chronic health problems
Research Activities, January 2006:
Having a usual source of care increases wellness visits among children with asthma
Studies examine the impact of Medicaid managed care programs on access to and use of care
Research Activities, October 2005:
Using a computerized kiosk during emergency treatment for children's asthma improves medication information
Research Activities, September 2005:
Use of nurse case managers and physician peer leaders can reduce children's asthma symptoms but at a price
Certain sociodemographic, environmental, and clinical factors predict asthma severity in children
Research Activities, August 2005:
Certain managed care organization characteristics can increase specialty care use among chronically ill low-income children
Research Activities, June 2005:
Rural hospitals appear to deliver care similar to nonrural hospitals for many common pediatric conditions
Research Activities, May 2005:
Use of an asthma kiosk in the emergency department can educate parents and improve clinician/patient communication
Research Activities, March 2005:
Significant exposure to tobacco smoke and underuse of controller medications exacerbate asthma symptoms among Head Start children
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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Technical Review, No. 3:
Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Summary
Research Activities, April 2008:
White children are about twice as likely to use stimulants as black and Hispanic children
Research Activities, November 2007:
Local touchscreen computer kiosks can help parents in urban, low-income communities learn about their child's health
Research Activities, September 2006:
Use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children has leveled off since 1997
Research Activities, July 2005:
Use of atypical antipsychotic drugs to treat children continues despite questions about their safety and efficacy in the young
Higher copayments of 3-tier drug formularies reduce the likelihood that individuals will use certain medications
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Dental Health
Child Health Research Findings: Oral Health
Task Force Recommendations (2004)
Prevention of Dental Caries in Preschool Children
MEPS Statistical Brief, No. 113:
Children's Dental Care: Periodicity of Checkups and Access to Care, 2003
MEPS Statistical Brief, No. 117:
Children's Dental Visits and Expenses, United States, 2003
MEPS Statistical Brief, No. 221:
Dental Coverage of Children and Young Adults under Age 21, United States, 1996 and 2006
News and Numbers
Research Activities, April 2009:
Design of the public insurance plan can reduce the time to a child's first dental visit after enrollment
Research Activities, November 2008:
More U.S. children are getting government dental insurance
Research Activities, September 2008:
Untreated tooth decay remains a substantial problem for children
with public insurance coverage
Research Activities, April 2008:
Children from lower income families are not as likely to visit a dentist after a care provider's referral
Research Activities, December 2007:
Doctors should advise Latino families about the safety, low cost, and dental health benefits of drinking tap water
Research Activities, October 2007:
AHRQ and FDA to collaborate in the largest study ever of possible heart risks with ADHA medications
Research Activities, October 2006:
Rural children with special health care needs are more likely
than their urban counterparts to lack needed dental care
Research Activities, March 2006
Minority children living in public housing are more likely to suffer from chronic health problems
Research Activities, August 2005:
Efforts beyond expanding health coverage may be needed to improve access and quality for low-income and minority children
Diabetes
Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 166:
Diabetes Education for Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Their Families
Research Activities, September 2008:
Overweight adolescents with type 2 diabetes underestimate their
weight problem, as do their parents
Research Activities, May 2008:
Studies examine pediatricians' and parents' attitudes toward childhood obesity
Research Activities, April 2008:
State spending on parks and recreation and required physical education classes are linked to youth activity
Research Activities, December 2007:
Treatments for pediatric Crohn's disease cases vary widely in North America
Research Activities, November 2007:
Premature infants with chronic lung disease can be safely cared for by community-based providers coordinating with a nurse specialist
Research Activities, November 2007:
A skin condition may identify young patients at risk for developing type 2 diabetes
Research Activities, January 2007:
Mandating more time in school PE classes may not increase exercise or weight loss among American children
Research Activities, November 2006:
A continuous subcutaneous glucose monitoring system can safely lower blood sugar levels of children with type 1 diabetes
Research Activities, September 2006:
Diabetes screening practices in children vary widely among pediatric clinicians
Research Activities, February 2006:
A surgery management protocol helps children with diabetes prepare for surgery
Research Activities, November 2005:
Low-dose insulin does not affect weight or physical development of children at risk for developing type 1 diabetes
Research Activities, August 2005:
Certain managed care organization characteristics can increase specialty care use among chronically ill low-income children
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Hearing/Speech
Agency Press Releases
Task Force Recommendations
Screening for Speech and Language Delay in Preschool Children (2006)
Screening for Newborn Hearing (2008)
Research Activities, September 2008:
Task Force recommends screening for hearing loss in all newborns
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Hip Dysplasia
Task Force Recommendation
Screening for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (2006)
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HIV/AIDS
Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 156:
Antiretroviral (ARV) Drug Resistance in the Developing World
Research Activities, April 2008:
Studies examine the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the South
Research Activities, January 2008:
Illinois hospitals are not ready to implement intrapartum strategies to eradicate pediatric HIV infection
Research Activities, September 2007:
Available and timely access to AZT for HIV-infected mothers giving birth needs to be improved in Illinois birthing hospitals
Research Activities, October 2006:
Less than half of parents infected with HIV tell their children about the diagnosis
Research Activities, May 2005:
Many HIV-infected parents worry needlessly about transmitting HIV to their children
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Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Child Health Research Findings: Mental Health
Task Force Recommendations
Screening for Major Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents (2009)
Agency Press Releases
Research Activities, February 2009:
Mental health counseling remains persistently low from adolescence into young adulthood
Research Activities, October 2008:
Study provides new evidence linking antidepressants and risk of suicide in depressed children and adolescents
Research Activities, September 2008:
Youth at highest risk of attempting suicide are severely
depressed and suffered a recent romantic breakup or assault
Research Activities, June 2008:
Diagnosis of bipolar disorder among youth skyrockets
Research Activities, May 2008:
Studies examine pediatricians' and parents' attitudes toward childhood obesity
Research Activities, March 2008:
A short homeless period among youth "aged out" of the foster care system affects care access, but not health
Research Activities, February 2008:
Children with special health care needs seem to benefit from Medicaid managed care programs with case managers
Research Activities, January 2008:
Regulatory warnings led to decreased use of antidepressants in children and adolescents in 2004 and 2005
Intervention programs that focus on already violent youth are more effective than other programs for reducing violent behavior
Use of antidepressants by low-income pregnant women has jumped more than twofold, raising questions about fetal risks
Research Activities, October 2007:
AHRQ and FDA to collaborate in the largest study ever of possible heart risks with ADHA medications
Researchers examine link between trauma and alcohol problems as well as cardiovascular risk factors among American Indians
Research Activities, July 2007:
Today's teen smokers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors than teens who smoked in the early nineties
Research Activities, June 2007:
The State Children's Health Insurance Program can improve care access, use, and quality for children with special health care needs and adolescents
Research Activities, January 2007:
Antidepressants may increase children's and adolescents' risk of suicide attempts after hospitalization for depression
Research Activities, October 2006:
Less than half of parents infected with HIV tell their children about the diagnosis
Research Activities, September 2006:
Use of stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children has leveled off since 1997
Research Activities, June 2006:
Antidepressant use doubled among adolescents from 1997 to 2002, with no change among children younger than 13 years
Research Activities, April 2006
Wisconsin study finds hundreds of hospitalizations for self-poisonings among 12- to 17-year-olds
Research Activities, March 2006
Minority children living in public housing are more likely to suffer from chronic health problems
Adding cognitive behavioral therapy to treatment plans reduces depressive symptoms among adolescents
Discontinuing growth hormone therapy is influenced by physiological factors, family preferences, and physician attitudes
Research Activities, February 2006:
Hospital type and location influence discharge disposition of adolescents hospitalized for suicide attempts
Research Activities, January 2006:
Cognitive behavioral therapy offers adolescents with depression some benefit over treatment with antidepressants alone
Studies examine the impact of Medicaid managed care programs on access to and use of care
Research Activities, October 2005:
Mental health problems among children with special health care needs and their caregivers are barriers to care
Two factors predict risk for suicide attempts in youths referred for emergency psychiatric hospitalization
Research Activities, September 2005:
Events surrounding a serious injury affect the likelihood that an adolescent will suffer from long-term post traumatic stress disorder
Research Activities, May 2005:
Researchers examine effects of quality improvement on depression care for adolescents and adults
Research Activities, January 2005:
Many chronic diseases and mental disorders that affect adults have their roots in childhood
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Obesity
Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 170:
Effectiveness of Weight Reduction Programs in Children
Task Force Recommendations
Overweight in Children and Adolescents: Screening and Interventions (2005)
Agency Press Release
Research Activities, April 2009:
Boosting and preserving green spaces in urban neighborhoods may help reduce childhood obesity
Research Activities, February 2009:
Adolescent females who are overweight have higher health expenditures than adolescent males who are overweight
Research Activities, November 2008:
Behavioral modification programs help obese children manage their weight
Research Activities, September 2008:
Overweight adolescents with type 2 diabetes underestimate their
weight problem, as do their parents
Research Activities, May 2008:
Studies examine pediatricians' and parents' attitudes toward childhood obesity
Research Activities, April 2008:
State spending on parks and recreation and required physical education classes are linked to youth activity
Research Activities, February 2008:
Study of young Head Start children links overweight to worsened asthma
Research Activities, August 2007:
Pediatricians recognize most overweight or obese children without using proportional weight curves
Research Activities, March 2007:
Children are more likely to attend a weight management program if location and time are convenient for parents
Research Activities, January 2007:
Mandating more time in school PE classes may not increase exercise or weight loss among American children
Research Activities, November 2005:
Clinicians are more likely to counsel youth diagnosed with obesity about diet and exercise
Research Activities, March 2005:
Late bottle-weaning is associated with an increased risk of overweight
Research Activities, January 2005:
Controlling diet and physical activity can help obese and overweight children lose weight
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Otitis Media
Child Health Research Findings: Otitis Media/Respiratory Infection
MEPS Research Findings, No. 23:
Trends in Children's Antibiotic Use: 1996 to 2001
Research Activities, February 2009:
Children receive ear tubes more frequently than clinical guidelines and experts recommend
Research Activities, January 2009:
Less than half of consumer Web sites are updated to reflect new recommendations on antibiotic use for ear infections
Research Activities, October 2008:
Guidelines for treating ear infections imply greater willingness to treat children older than 2 years with antibiotics
Research Activities, April 2007:
Tympanometric findings can indicate the probability of middle ear disease in children under age 3
Pneumonia-vaccinated children with ear infections may acquire more strains of bacteria that could affect antibiotic treatment
Research Activities, June 2006:
A simple pocket card that assesses the symptoms and severity of a child's acute ear infection can aid treatment decisions
Research Activities, October 2005:
Parents are more satisfied when doctors prescribe antibiotics for their child's cough or cold symptoms
Research Activities, September 2005:
Studies investigate watchful waiting over immediate antibiotics for young children with nonsevere ear infections
Pneumococcal carriage tends to be more prevalent in communities where more children attend child care centers
Research Activities, July 2005:
Despite recent downward trends in antibiotic use among children, use of some broad-spectrum antibiotics has increased
Research Activities, May 2005:
Latest data show that use of antibiotics to treat ear infections is declining
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Respiratory Disease Care
Child Health Research Findings: Respiratory Infection
Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 69:
Management of Bronchiolitis in Infants and Children
Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 141:
Pediatric Anthrax: Implications for Bioterrorism Preparedness
Research Activities, January 2009:
Doctors tend to overprescribe antibiotics for children with upper respiratory infections
Research Activities, November 2008:
Bronchiolitis-related outpatient and hospital visits have risen markedly among Medicaid-insured infants in Tennessee
Research Activities, October 2008:
Head Start classrooms have lower-than-expected allergen concentrations
Research Activities, August 2008:
Some children are already experiencing drug resistance to a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics used in adults
Research Activities, June 2008:
Smoking in the home leads to more emergency visits and hospitalizations for lung problems among young children
Research Activities, December 2007:
Parents and children are mostly passive during pediatric visits
Research Activities, November 2007:
Premature infants with chronic lung disease can be safely cared for by community-based providers coordinating with a nurse specialist
Research Activities, August 2007:
Rhinoviruses are associated with numerous hospitalizations of children under the age of 5 years, especially those with asthma
Research Activities, May 2007:
Study supports recommendation to expand use of influenza vaccine to children older than 2 years of age
Research Activities, April 2007:
Pulse oximetry and hospital observation can detect failure of amoxicillin treatment earlier in children with severe pneumonia
Research Activities, January 2007:
Pediatric hospitalists are more likely than community pediatricians to use evidence-based care for hospitalized children
Research Activities, August 2006:
Moderately premature infants born at 30 to 34 weeks gestation tend to suffer substantial health problems
Studies highlight the value of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to inform trends in care costs, coverage, use, and access
Research Activities, July 2006:
Parental use of a kiosk in the emergency department has the potential to improve asthma care
Research Activities, March 2006
Doctors still prescribe antibiotics for over half of children with sore throats
Research Activities, December 2005:
Four clinical factors can help diagnose pneumonia in children seen in hospital emergency departments
Research Activities, September 2005:
Pneumococcal carriage tends to be more prevalent in communities where more children attend child care centers
Research Activities, July 2005:
Alcohol-based hand gel use may reduce respiratory illness transmission in homes with young children enrolled in day care
Research Activities, April 2005:
Whooping cough can produce symptoms that are severe and prolonged
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Rickets
Vitamin D Supplementation To Prevent Rickets in Breast-Fed Babies: Fact Sheet
Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, No. 15-:
Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health
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Sickle Cell Disease
Task Force Recommendations
Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Newborns (2007)
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Streptococcal Infections-Group B
MEPS Statistical Brief, No. 137:
Treatment of Sore Throats: Antibiotic Prescriptions and Throat Cultures for Children under 18 Years of Age, 2002-2004 (Average Annual)
Research Activities, July 2008:
Strep throat in children carries significant societal costs
Research Activities, March 2006
Doctors still prescribe antibiotics for over half of children with sore throats
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Vision
Task Force Recommendations
Screening for Visual Impairment in Children Under 5 (2004)
Research Activities, August 2006:
Twice as many minority children than white children with special health care needs do not receive needed vision care
Research Activities, January 2005:
Children with special needs often don't receive the health care services and assistive devices they need
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