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Regional Variations in Pediatric Medication Exposure: Spatial Analysis of Poison Center Utilization in Western Pennsylvania
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Nov 26 2015
Source: Clin Toxicol (Phila). 54(1):47-52. -
Alternative Title:Clin Toxicol (Phila)
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Personal Author:
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Description:Context
Medication drug exposures among young children continue to rise despite current poison prevention efforts. These exposures result in increased healthcare utilization and medical costs. New tactics are needed to reduce injuries related to pediatric drug exposures.
Objective
We aimed to identify cluster patterns in 1) calls for pediatric medication drug exposures and 2) a subset of calls that resulted in medical evaluation referrals. We identified and evaluated population characteristics associated with cluster patterns.
Methods
We analyzed 26,685 pharmaceutical drug exposures involving children less than 5 years of age based on calls reported to the Pittsburgh Poison Center from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010. We performed spatial statistics to assess for clustering. We used logistic regression was used to estimate population characteristics associated with clustering.
Results
Spatial analysis identified 22 exposure clusters and 5 referral clusters. 65% of 89 ZIP codes in the clusters of drug exposure with HCF referral were not identified in the exposure clusters. ZIP codes in the HCF referral clusters were characterized as rural, impoverished, and with high rates of unemployment and school dropouts.
Discussion
Our principal findings demonstrate pediatric drug exposures do exist in discrete geographic clusters and with distinct socioeconomic characteristics.
Conclusion
This study offers a starting point for subsequent investigations into the geographic and social context of pediatric medication drug exposures. This is an important step in revising pediatric poison prevention strategies.
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Pubmed ID:26609895
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC5107113
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