Children's primary health care services: A social-cognitive model of sustained high use

significant percentages of children exhibit patterns of sustained high use of primary health care services, unfortunately, current models fail to expl ain the processes that drive and maintain such patterns. We draw upon the p ediatric utilization and social-cognitive literature to develop a model tha t explains the mechanisms that ultimately drive and maintain patterns of pr olonged high use. Specifically, wt propose that parental stress and low sel f-efficacy for coping with various parenting and life demands interact to d rive the utilization of pediatric services. We outlined sequelae of frequen t physician that serve to maintain high use. This model suggests a number o f psychological interventions that clinical health psychologists might unde rtake to remediate inappropriate, sustained high use of children's primary healthcare services.