European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology
-
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol · Apr 2016
Examining predictors of healthcare utilization in youth with inflammatory bowel disease.
Traditional definitions of healthcare utilization (HCU) emphasize clinical visits and procedures. Clinic calls, an understudied form of HCU, occur with high frequency. Understanding and examining predictors of HCU, such as disease activity and parent distress, may help reduce overutilization. ⋯ Greater parent distress and disease activity together predicted HCU and clinic calls. Disease activity was the most salient predictor of calls, whereas parent distress was the most salient predictor of in-person HCU. Clinic calls should not be overlooked as a form of HCU, as communication that takes place outside of scheduled appointments utilizes resources and may indicate poorer disease control.