From the Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester, NY.
Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
Dermatitis. 2021;32(6):406-412. doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000742.
Although patch testing has historically been done by dermatologists, allergists are also patch testing. Little is known about the current utilization of patch testing by medical specialists.
The aim was to determine trends in utilization of patch testing in Medicare beneficiaries by various clinicians and demographics.
Data from the 2012-2017 Medicare Public Use File were analyzed, including 82,241 total unique clinicians of whom 312 filed a patch testing claim.
Dermatologists had a steady share of patch tests (annual clinicians; annual patches) from 2012 (158; 258,735) to 2017 (199; 351,994), an increase of 25.9% and 36.0%, respectively. Allergists, however, had a marked increase in utilization of patch tests from 2012 (84; 62,498) to 2017 (187; 182,480), an increase of 122.6% and 192.0%, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression models, male dermatologists and allergists had increased odds of patch testing (P < 0.001 for both), as did clinicians in the Northeast and Southern United States (P ≤ 0.003 for both).
Data are only available for Medicare Part B patients; changes in utilization may be different for individuals, private insurance, or Medicare Advantage Plans.
Relative to dermatologists, patch testing is increasing among allergists. Addressing barriers to patch testing may increase rates of patch testing by dermatologists.
尽管斑贴试验历来由皮肤科医生进行，但过敏症医生也进行斑贴试验。对于医学专家目前对斑贴试验的利用情况知之甚少。
本研究旨在确定各类临床医生和人口统计学特征的医疗保险受益人的斑贴试验利用趋势。
分析了 2012-2017 年医疗保险公共使用文件的数据，包括 82241 名总共有独特临床医生，其中 312 名进行了斑贴试验。
皮肤科医生的斑贴试验数量（每年的临床医生；每年的斑贴）从 2012 年（158 名；258735 个）到 2017 年（199 名；351994 个）保持稳定，分别增加了 25.9%和 36.0%。然而，过敏症医生的斑贴试验利用率从 2012 年（84 名；62498 个）显著增加到 2017 年（187 名；182480 个），分别增加了 122.6%和 192.0%。在多变量逻辑回归模型中，男性皮肤科医生和过敏症医生进行斑贴试验的可能性增加（均 P < 0.001），美国东北部和南部的临床医生也是如此（均 P ≤ 0.003）。
数据仅可用于医疗保险 B 部分患者；对于个人、私人保险或医疗保险优势计划，利用情况的变化可能不同。
与皮肤科医生相比，过敏症医生进行斑贴试验的比例在增加。解决斑贴试验的障碍可能会提高皮肤科医生的斑贴试验率。
