Study Finds 25% Percent of Parents Use Retail Clinics Over Pediatrician

Almost one in four parents examined in a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics have used a retail clinic in lieu of a family pediatrician to obtain treatment for their children.

 The study administered a survey on retail clinic use to St. Louis parents with regular pediatricians.

Responding parents were most likely to visit a retail clinic with their child for sore throats, ear infections, colds, flu and physicals. About 40 percent of parents informed their family pediatrician of the visit afterwards.

Three-quarters of parents who visited a retail clinic had considered scheduling a pediatrics visit but ultimately chose the retail clinic because it was more convenient (about 37 percent), no pediatrics appointment was available (about 25 percent), they didn't want to disturb the pediatrician after hours (about 15 percent) or they did not think their child's illness was serious enough to warrant an office visit (13 percent). 

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