Defining Patient Visits in a National Pediatric Practice-Based Research Network Study (DPV)

Phase 1: Traditional Paper/Pencil Data Collection

Recruitment for Phase 1 focused on any PROS practice that has participated in a PROS study in the last 5 years. The goal was to have 20 PROS practitioners complete this phase during "acute-care season" (March/April 2002) and 20 PROS practitioners complete this phase during "well-child season" (May/June 2002), proportionally stratified by region (northeast, midwest, south and west) and area (rural vs. nonrural) to mimic the network.

A group of 60 "active" PROS practices, proportionally stratified by region and area, were sent recruitment materials in early March 2002 for participation in "acute-care season". Thirty-two practitioners, more than our recruitment goal, agreed to participate in "acute-care season". Twenty-one of these practitioners agreed to complete the study in March and 11 will complete the study in April. All 32 practitioners have completed the study and returned data.

Recruitment materials were sent to an additional 60 qualifying PROS practices in April 2002, proportionally stratified by region and area, for participation in "well-child season" (May/June 2002). Twenty-five practitioners, more than our recruitment goal, agreed to participate in "well-care season". Eleven of these practitioners agreed to complete the study in May and 14 agreed to complete the study in June. Three of the May participants and 7 of the June participants also agreed to participate in Phase 2. All 25 practitioners have completed the study and returned data.

Overall, all 57 participating PROS practitioners have completed the study and returned Phase 1 data.

Phase 2: Paper/Pencil vs. Web Data Collection

Recruitment materials were sent to a group of PROS and National Medical Association (NMA) practitioners to participate in Phase 2 (paper/pencil vs. web data collection) during May and June 2002. Forty-eight practitioners, more than our recruitment goal, agreed to participate. Three participants are Phase 1 participants from May, 5 participants are NMA practitioners, 7 participants are June Phase 1 participants and 33 practitioners are PROS practitioners who did not participate in Phase 1.

All 43 PROS and 5 NMA participating practitioners have completed the study and returned data.

Data Analysis:

Data analysis of Phase 1 and 2 data was completed.