Raghav Tripathi|Konrad Knusel|Harib H. Ezaldein|Jeffrey F. Scott|Jeremy S. Bordeaux
Association of Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics With Differences in Use of Outpatient Dermatology Services in the United States
Case Western Reserve University|University School|University Hospitals of Cleveland|Case Western Reserve University|University School|University Hospitals of Cleveland|Case Western Reserve University|University School|University Hospitals of Cleveland|Case Western Reserve University|University School|University Hospitals of Cleveland|Case Western Reserve University|University School|University Hospitals of Cleveland
h3importanceh3 knowledge regarding differences dermatologic care patients broad range dermatologic conditions limited h3objectiveh3 elucidate nationwide differences use outpatient dermatologic care h3design setting participantsh3 retrospective analysis nationally representative data 2007 2015 medical expenditure panel survey meps provided agency healthcare research quality health care use outcomes dermatologic conditions skin cancers infections dermatologic inflammatory conditionsulcers skin disorders examined via multivariable logistic regression analyses outpatient officebased dermatologist visit rates accounting sex age raceethnicity educational level income insurance status region selfreported condition selfreported health status participants 183 054 meps respondents visited dermatologist 2007 2015 h3main outcomes measuresh3 primary outcome measure whether patient received outpatient care dermatologic condition payment secondary outcomes annual health care use individuals dermatologic conditions including per capita expenditure visit h3resultsh3 183 054 meps respondents mean sd age 34 23 years 521 female 19 561 107 selfreported dermatologic condition 9645 patients total 11 761 outpatient visits dermatologists hispanic adjusted odds ratio aor 055 95 ci 049061 black aor 042 95 ci 038046 patients less likely receive outpatient care dermatologic condition relative nonhispanic white patients male patients less likely receive outpatient dermatologic care female patients aor 066 95 ci 062070 midwestern patients less likely receive outpatient dermatologic care northeastern patients aor 080 95 ci 070091 patients medicaid medicare coverage aor 075 95 ci 068083 uninsured patients aor 039 95 ci 033047 less likely receive outpatient dermatologic care privately insured patients increasing educational level income associated increased odds receiving outpatient care dermatologic condition h3conclusions relevanceh3 findings highlight wideranging differences use dermatologic care united states across various demographic socioeconomic lines results study suggest urgent need characterize potential dermatologic health care differences improve use outpatient dermatologic care among disadvantaged populations