Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Diversity of Population Served and Imaging Used in US Children’s Hospital Emergency Departments

• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.13951
• Publication Date: 2022-06-02T15:32:29Z
• Authors: Margaret E. Samue...; Heidi G. De Souza; Mark I. Neuman; Elizabeth Alpern; Jennifer R. Marin; Jennifer Hoffmann; Matt Hall; Paul L. Aronson; Alon Peltz; Jordee Wells; Colleen K. Gutman; Harold K. Simon; Kristen Shanahan; Monika K. Goyal
• Keywords: Hospitals, Pediatric; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; 0302 clinical medicine; Child, Preschool; Ethnicity; Humans; Female; Child; Emergency Service, Hospital; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Original Investigation

<h3>Importance</h3> Lower rates of diagnostic imaging have been observed among Black children compared with White in pediatric emergency departments. Although the racial composition population served by each hospital differs, it is unclear whether this associated overall at level, and particular how may be difference between a given hospital. <h3>Objective</h3> To examine association diversity seen ED variation imaging. <h3>Design, Setting, Participants</h3> Cross-sectional analysis visits patients younger than 18 years 38 children's hospitals from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2019, using data Pediatric Health Information System. Data were analyzed April to September 2021. <h3>Exposures</h3> Proportion minoritized groups cared for <h3>Main Outcomes Measures</h3> The primary outcome was receipt an test defined as radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging; adjusted odds ratios (aORs) calculated measure differences race ethnicity hospital, correlation proportion aOR examined. <h3>Results</h3> There 12 310 344 (3 477 674 [28.3%] Hispanic patients; 3 212 915 [26.1%] non-Hispanic 4 415 747 [35.9%] 6 487 660 [52.7%] female patients) 5 883 664 (mean [SD] age, 5.84 [5.23] years) during study period, which 527 866 (28.7%) involved least 1 test. Diagnostic performed 508 382 (34.2%) children, 790 961 (24.6%) 907 222 (26.1%) (<i>P</i> &lt; .001). Non-Hispanic consistently less likely receive all modalities. significant greater (correlation coefficient, −0.37; 95% CI, −0.62 −0.07;<i>P</i> = .02). <h3>Conclusions Relevance</h3> In cross-sectional study, higher percentage had larger patients, more These findings emphasize urgent need interventions level improve equity medicine.