%0 Journal Article
%T Healthcare access and services use among US children with autism spectrum disorder
%A Karen A Kuhlthau
%A Katharine E Zuckerman
%A Olivia J Lindly
%J Autism
%@ 1461-7005
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1362361318815237
%X This study aimed to determine associations of healthcare access problems with services use among US children with autism spectrum disorder. We analyzed 2011¨C2014 National Health Interview Survey data on 651 children with autism spectrum disorder aged 2¨C17£¿years. There were three measures of healthcare access problems: (1) delays accessing healthcare, (2) difficulty affording healthcare, and (3) trouble finding a primary care provider. There were five service use measures: (1) £¿4 office visits, (2) £¿1 well-child visit, (3) flu vaccine, (4) prescription medication, and (5) £¿1 emergency department visit. Multivariable regression models estimated associations of £¿1 healthcare access problem with each service use variable and effect modification by socioeconomic status and race and ethnicity. Twenty-nine percent of children with autism spectrum disorder had £¿1 healthcare access problem. Having £¿1 healthcare access problem was associated with lower adjusted odds of £¿1 well-child visit or prescription medication use but higher adjusted odds of £¿4 office visits or £¿1 emergency department visit. No significant association was found for flu vaccine. Associations of healthcare access problems with emergency department use were most pronounced for higher socioeconomic status and White, non-Hispanic subgroups. Intervention, such as insurance expansion, is needed to improve healthcare access for children with autism spectrum disorder
%K autism spectrum disorder
%K emergency medical services
%K ethnicity
%K health services accessibility
%K healthcare disparities
%K preventive health services
%K race
%K socioeconomic status
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1362361318815237