Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP

Empowering Practitioners: Leveraging Research to Enhance Child Outcomes

Empowering Practitioners: Leveraging Research to Enhance Child Outcomes

Introduction

As practitioners dedicated to the well-being of children, it's essential to stay informed about the latest research and leverage data-driven decisions to improve outcomes. A recent study titled "To what extent does sex, age and BMI impact medical and pharmacy costs? A retrospective cohort study involving employees in a large school district in the USA" provides valuable insights that can be applied to enhance our practice. This blog will discuss the key findings of the study and how practitioners can implement these outcomes to improve their skills and encourage further research.

Key Findings

The study, conducted by Merrill and Fowers (2019), analyzed the impact of sex, age, and BMI on medical and pharmacy costs among employees in a large school district. The main findings include:

Implementing Research Outcomes

Practitioners can use these findings to enhance their practice in several ways:

1. Focus on Weight Management

Given the significant impact of BMI on medical and pharmacy costs, practitioners should emphasize weight management in their interventions. Encouraging healthy eating habits and physical activity can help manage weight and reduce the risk of chronic health conditions.

2. Address Gender-Specific Health Needs

The study highlights the higher medical and pharmacy costs for women, particularly related to birth control, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and urinary tract infections. Practitioners should be aware of these gender-specific health needs and tailor their interventions accordingly.

3. Prioritize Age-Related Health Concerns

As medical and pharmacy costs increase with age, practitioners should prioritize age-related health concerns in their practice. This includes focusing on medications for gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Early intervention and preventive measures can help manage these conditions and reduce overall healthcare costs.

4. Encourage Participation in Wellness Programs

The study found that participation in wellness screening programs was associated with lower medical costs. Practitioners should encourage participation in such programs to identify health risks early and promote preventive care.

Encouraging Further Research

While the study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to explore the causal relationships between BMI, medical costs, and pharmacy costs. Practitioners can contribute to this research by collecting and analyzing data from their practice, sharing findings with the broader community, and collaborating with researchers to conduct studies.

Conclusion

By implementing the outcomes of this research, practitioners can enhance their skills and create better outcomes for children. Focusing on weight management, addressing gender-specific health needs, prioritizing age-related health concerns, and encouraging participation in wellness programs are key strategies to achieve this goal.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: To what extent does sex, age and BMI impact medical and pharmacy costs? A retrospective cohort study involving employees in a large school district in the USA.


Citation: Merrill, R. M., & Fowers, R. (2019). To what extent does sex, age and BMI impact medical and pharmacy costs? A retrospective cohort study involving employees in a large school district in the USA. BMJ Open, 9(5), e024078. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024078
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP

Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP