Subset analysis
In a subset analysis, we examined utilization among children in the two lowest
PHR-use quartiles compared to that of propensity score matched non-registered children.
The propensity score matching method was identical to that used in the full analysis.
PHR-registered children were more likely to be female (52.5% vs. 44.1%, p=0.006), and
their caregivers had fewer PCP visits (1.6 vs. 2, p=0.02). There were no significant
differences in utilization (Table 1). PHR-registered children had an average of 4.5
outpatient clinic visits, 0.3 emergency department visits, and 2.8 telephone encounters.
Non-registered children had 4.1 outpatient clinic visits, 0.23 emergency department
visits, and 2.6 telephone encounters. Even after adjusting for child’s sex, number of
parent’s PCP visits, and propensity score, rates of utilization were not significantly
different (Table 2).
Table 1. Characteristics of propensity score-matched PHR-registered children in the two
lowest-use quartiles and non-registered children and their caregivers
Children
Number of chronic conditions, mean
Time in study in days, mean
Female, %
Payment source, %
Medicaid
Commercial insurance
Private payment
Caregivers
Age, mean
Female, %
Years of membership, mean
Number of no shows, mean
Number of PCP visits, mean
Number of physical exams, mean
PHR registered
Non-registered
N = 547
N = 547
p value
0.13
348.0
52.5
0.12
346.4
44.1
0.54
0.54
0.006
5.5
93.4
5.1
4.4
94.7
5.5
0.49
0.39
0.9
32.1
70.0
6.1
2.1
1.6
0.31
32.2
64.5
6
2
2
0.27
0.79
0.06
0.86
0.55
0.02
0.31
Race, %
Asian
Black
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Native American
Unknown
White
Preferred language, %
English
Other than English
Unknown
Educational level, %
< Grade 9
Grade 9 -12
High school graduate
Some college
Associate degree
Bachelor’s degree
Graduate/ professional degree
Encounters
Outpatient clinic visits, mean
Telephone encounters, mean
Emergency department visits, mean
14.3
1.8
8.2
0.55
13.4
61.8
14.4
1.1
7
0.91
14.8
61.8
0.77
85.6
1.1
13.4
84.8
2.2
13
0.36
85.6
1.1
13.4
85.6
1.1
13.4
85.6
84.8
2.2
13
84.8
2.2
13
84.8
0.36
4.5
0.3
2.8
4.1
0.23
2.6
0.36
0.36
0.09
0.16
0.26
Note: Bolded results are statistically significant.
Table 2. Adjusted average utilization and 95% CI for PHR-registered children in two
lowest-use quartiles and non-registered children
PHR registered
N = 547
With all providers
Outpatient clinic visits
Telephone encounters
Emergency department visits
NS, not significant
4.58 [4.33, 4.84]
3.0 [2.81, 3.2]
0.3 [0.24, 0.39]
Non-registered
N = 547
p value
4.25 [4.03, 4.49]
2.66 [2.47, 2.87]
0.23 [0.17, 0.3]
NS
NS
NS