TABLE 1.
Parent, Child, and Hospitalization Characteristics
| Characteristic | All Families (n = 150) | Families Initiating Medication Dialogue (n = 83) |
|---|---|---|
| Mother | 85% (127) | 86% (72) |
| White, non-Hispanic | 85% (125) | 86% (71) |
| Parent education | ||
| High school or less | 19% (28) | 14% (12) |
| Some college | 35% (53) | 34% (28) |
| Bachelor's degree or more | 47% (70) | 52% (43) |
| Parent age, y | 35 ± 7.8 | 36 ± 7.8 |
| Female child | 49% (73) | 49% (41) |
| Child age, y | 5.7 ± 5.6 | 6.2 ± 5.5 |
| Child health status | ||
| Excellent to good | 87% (131) | 88% (73) |
| Admitting service | ||
| Pulmonary | 14% (21) | 19% (16) |
| Hematology/oncology | 14% (21) | 13% (11) |
| General pediatrics | 72% (108) | 67% (56) |
| Reason for hospitalizationa | ||
| Breathing problem | 29% (44) | 31% (26) |
| Stomach or intestinal problem | 22% (33) | 25% (21) |
| Fever | 17% (26) | 16% (13) |
| Asthmab | 12% (18) | 17% (14) |
| Seizure or headache | 6% (9) | 5% (4) |
| Cancer | 6% (9) | 6% (5) |
| Hematologic disease | 5% (7) | 6% (5) |
| Cystic fibrosis | 4% (6) | 7% (6) |
| Other | 22% (33) | 18% (15) |
| Length of stay | ||
| 1 d | 63% (94) | 50% (41) |
| 2–3 d | 18% (27) | 24% (20) |
| 4–7 d | 10% (15) | 12% (10) |
| >1 wk | 9% (14) | 15% (12) |
Data are presented as % (n) or mean ± SD. Values may not add to 100% due to rounding.
a
The number of reasons for hospitalization is greater than the number of families because parents could indicate multiple reasons for hospitalization.
b
P < .05.