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. 2012 Feb;43(1):15-28.
doi: 10.1007/s12160-011-9328-3.

A multi-factorial model for examining racial and ethnic disparities in acute asthma visits by children

Kimberly Sidora-Arcoleo  1 , Jonathan M Feldman, Denise Serebrisky, Amanda Spray
Affiliations

A multi-factorial model for examining racial and ethnic disparities in acute asthma visits by children

Kimberly Sidora-Arcoleo et al. Ann Behav Med. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Causes of children's asthma health disparities are complex. Parents' asthma illness representations may play a role.

Purpose: The study aims to test a theoretically based, multi-factorial model for ethnic disparities in children's acute asthma visits through parental illness representations.

Methods: Structural equation modeling investigated the association of parental asthma illness representations, sociodemographic characteristics, health care provider factors, and social-environmental context with children's acute asthma visits among 309 White, Puerto Rican, and African American families was conducted.

Results: Forty-five percent of the variance in illness representations and 30% of the variance in acute visits were accounted for. Statistically significant differences in illness representations were observed by ethnic group. Approximately 30% of the variance in illness representations was explained for whites, 23% for African Americans, and 26% for Puerto Ricans. The model accounted for >30% of the variance in acute visits for African Americans and Puerto Ricans but only 19% for the whites.

Conclusion: The model provides preliminary support that ethnic heterogeneity in asthma illness representations affects children's health outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual model.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Final path analysis: acute asthma visits on asthma illness representation score-White.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Final path analysis: acute asthma visits on asthma illness representation score- African American.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Final path analysis: acute asthma visits on asthma illness representation score-Puerto-Rican
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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