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Survey Items: C4Q05_1 & 1A; C4Q05_2 & 2A; C4Q05_31 & 31A; C4Q05_32 & 32A; C4Q05_4 & 4A; C4Q05_5 & 5A; C4Q05_6 & 6A; C4Q05_7 &7A; C4Q05_8 &8A; C4Q05_9 & 9A; C4Q05_10 &10A; C4Q05_11 & 11A; C4Q05_12 & 12A; C4Q05_14 &14A
Denominator: CSHCN age 0-17 years
Numerator: No unmet needs; 1 unmet need; 2 or more unmet needs from the list of 14 services and products asked about in the survey
Revisions and Changes: In 2009/10, the assessment of unmet need for preventive medical care and preventive dental care changed. K4Q20 and K4Q21 were added and while they are not used for this measure, their addition did change the skip pattern and scoring of C4Q05_1 & 1A and C4Q05_31 & 31A. Additionally, the questions assessing need and unmet need for disposable medical supplies were not asked in 2009/10, which changed this into any unmet need for 14 (as opposed to 15) services. Indicator 6 cannot be compared across survey years.
Additional Notes: Respondents are asked whether CSHCN needed each of 14 different health care services or equipment during the past 12 months. Respondents giving an affirmative answer to the need for a specific health care service or equipment, are asked a follow up question to determine if child got all the care in that he/she needed in that area. These responses are summed to create an overall count of unmet needs for care. The 14 different services/equipment needs asked about in the survey include: routine preventive care; specialist care; preventive dental care; other dental care; prescription medicines; OT, PT or speech therapy; mental health care or counseling; substance abuse treatment or counseling; home health care; vision care or eyeglasses; hearing aids or hearing care; mobility aids or devices; communication aids or devices; disposable medical supplies; durable medical equipment. Items are simple yes/no answers. Any child with an answer of "yes" on at least one item will be in the numerator as "1 or or more unmet needs." Valid responses on all items are required. If an item is don't know or refused, then the child is set to missing.
Treatment of Unknown Values: Unknown values (responses coded as 'refused', 'don't know', or system missing) are not included in the denominator when calculating prevalence estimates and weighted population counts displayed in the data query results table. In nearly every case, the proportion of unknown values is less than 1% and the exclusion of these values does not change the prevalence estimates (%) and only marginally affects the weighted population counts (Weighted Est.). Exceptions are noted in the form of a Data Alert at the bottom of a results table.
History and Development: The Maternal and Child Health Bureau leads the development of the NS-CSHCN survey, indicators and performance measures, in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and a national technical expert panel. The expert panel includes representatives from other federal agencies, state Title V leaders, family organizations, and child health researchers. Previously validated questions and scales are used when available. Respondents’ cognitive understanding of the survey questions is assessed during the pretest phase and revisions made as required. All final data components are verified by NCHS and DRC/CAHMI staff prior to public release.
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C.I. = 95% Confidence Interval. Percentages and population estimates (Pop.Est.) are weighted to represent child population in US.
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With funding and direction from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. CAHMI is responsible for the analyses, interpretations, presentations and conclusions included on this site.
Suggested citation format: National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. NS-CSHCN 2009/10. Data query from the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health website. Retrieved [mm/dd/yy] from [www.childhealthdata.org].