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Asli AA, Moshfeghifar S, Mousighichi P, Samimi PM. Adults' Visual Cue Preferences and Wayfinding Abilities in Healthcare Centers. HERD-HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH & DESIGN JOURNAL 2023; 16:104-118. [PMID: 36866405 DOI: 10.1177/19375867231153122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Physical and visual elements that help people find their way around an environment are called visual cues (VCs). The current study aims to evaluate adults' wayfinding abilities (navigation, orientation, spatial anxiety, and distance estimation) and VC (navigational color coding) preferences in terms of color and position; additionally, investigates their differences in adults' life span phases (young adults, early middle-aged adults, and late middle-aged adults). BACKGROUND Wayfinding in complex environments such as healthcare centers has been challenging for most people. Although VCs are being used increasingly to facilitate wayfinding, considering people's preferences regarding VCs, especially navigational color coding, are neglected. METHODS Obtained data from a survey of 375 healthcare center visitors with textual and photo questionnaires were analyzed by descriptive statics and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS Young adults preferred VCs with "mixed colors and positioned in the middle of the floor," early middle-aged adults preferred "warm color VCs in the middle of the wall," and late middle-aged adults preferred "warm color VCs at the bottom of the wall." Additionally, the results demonstrated that with aging, navigation and distance estimation abilities deteriorate, and spatial anxiety increases. CONCLUSIONS The outcomes of the present study increase our knowledge regarding the impact of adults' life span phases on their wayfinding abilities and VC preferences and offer suggestions for architects and healthcare center stakeholders to provide environments that improve adults' wayfinding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsaneh Alizadeh Asli
- Department of Psychology, Buinzahra Branch, Islamic Azad University, Buinzahra, Iran
| | | | | | - Paniz Mousavi Samimi
- Department of Art and Architecture, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
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Walsh PS, Zhang Y, Lipshaw MJ. Variation in Emergency Department Use of Racemic Epinephrine and Associated Outcomes for Croup. Hosp Pediatr 2023; 13:167-173. [PMID: 36651069 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2022-006905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Racemic epinephrine (RE) is commonly administered for croup in the emergency department (ED). Our objectives were to examine variation in RE use between EDs, to determine whether ED variation in RE use is associated with hospital or patient factors, and to evaluate the associations between the rates of hospital-specific ED RE use and patient outcomes. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Heath Information System of children aged 3 months to 10 years with croup in the ED. We used mixed-effects regression to calculate risk-standardized proportions of patients receiving RE in each ED and to analyze the relationship between risk-standardized institutional RE use and individual patient odds of hospital admission, ICU admission, and ED revisits. RESULTS We analyzed 231 683 patient visits from 39 hospitals. ED administration of RE varied from 14% to 48% of visits (median, 24.5%; interquartile range, 20.0%-27.8%). A total of 8.6% of patients were hospitalized and 1% were admitted to the ICU. After standardizing for case mix and site effects, increasing ED use of RE per site was associated with increasing patient odds of hospital admission (odds ratio [OR], 1.39-95%; confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.91), but not ICU admission (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.99-1.97) or ED revisit (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.92-1.09). CONCLUSIONS In this large, observational study, RE administration varied widely across EDs. Increased RE use by site was associated with increased odds of hospital admission for individual patients when controlling for patient factors. These results suggest further standardization of RE use in children with croup is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Walsh
- Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Yin Zhang
- Divisions of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
| | - Matthew J Lipshaw
- Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Walsh PS, Schnadower D, Zhang Y, Ramgopal S, Shah SS, Wilson PM. Association of Early Oseltamivir With Improved Outcomes in Hospitalized Children With Influenza, 2007-2020. JAMA Pediatr 2022; 176:e223261. [PMID: 36121673 PMCID: PMC9486642 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.3261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Importance Oseltamivir is recommended for all children hospitalized with influenza, despite limited evidence supporting its use in the inpatient setting. Objective To determine whether early oseltamivir use is associated with improved outcomes in children hospitalized with influenza. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter retrospective study included 55 799 children younger than 18 years who were hospitalized with influenza from October 1, 2007, to March 31, 2020, in 36 tertiary care pediatric hospitals who participate in the Pediatric Health Information System database. Data were analyzed from January 2021 to March 2022. Exposures Early oseltamivir treatment, defined as use of oseltamivir on hospital day 0 or 1. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was hospital length of stay (LOS) in calendar days. Secondary outcomes included 7-day hospital readmission, late (hospital day 2 or later) intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, and a composite outcome of in-hospital death or use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) based on propensity scoring was used to address confounding by indication. Mixed-effects models were used to compare outcomes between children who did and did not receive early oseltamivir treatment. Outcomes were also compared within high-risk subgroups based on age, presence of a complex chronic condition, early critical illness, and history of asthma. Results The analysis included 55 799 encounters from 36 hospitals. The median (IQR) age of the cohort was 3.61 years (1.03-8.27); 56% were male, and 44% were female. A total of 33 207 patients (59.5%) received early oseltamivir. In propensity score-weighted models, we found that children treated with early oseltamivir had shorter LOS (median 3 vs 4 days; IPTW model ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.52-0.53) and lower odds of all-cause 7-day hospital readmission (3.5% vs 4.8%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.66-0.77), late ICU transfer (2.4% vs 5.5%; aOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.37-0.46), and the composite outcome of death or ECMO use (0.9% vs 1.4%; aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.54-0.73). Conclusions and Relevance Early use of oseltamivir in hospitalized children was associated with shorter hospital stay and lower odds of 7-day readmission, ICU transfer, ECMO use, and death. These findings support the current recommendations for oseltamivir use in children hospitalized with influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S. Walsh
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - David Schnadower
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Yin Zhang
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Sriram Ramgopal
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Samir S. Shah
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medicine Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Paria M. Wilson
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Hall JE, Pham PK, Liberman DB. Describing the Patient Population of a Pediatric Emergency Department Based on Visit Frequency. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022; 38:e1620-e1625. [PMID: 36173434 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A small number of children in the United States use a disproportionate share of emergency healthcare services. Our study objective was to examine characteristics associated with frequent pediatric emergency department (PED) utilization. METHODS A retrospective cohort-sequential study of patients seen in the PED of an urban children's hospital was conducted. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: infrequent users (<4 visits during index year 2017) and frequent users (≥4 visits in 2017). Frequent PED users were further divided into persistent frequent (≥4 visits in the year before and after 2017) and incidental frequent (≥4 visits in 2017). Patient- and visit-level characteristics were analyzed for associations with PED utilization. RESULTS In 2017, there were 82,361 visits by 56,767 patients to our PED. Frequent users comprised 4% of the total patient volume but accounted for 13% of visits. Compared with infrequent users, frequent users were younger, more likely publicly insured, and English speaking. Frequent user visits were more likely to occur outside clinic hours, be triaged as emergent, and involve subspecialists. Compared with visits by incidental frequent users, visits by persistent frequent users were more likely to be emergent or urgent, and involve subspecialists, diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, and medication administration. CONCLUSIONS Although the percentage of frequent users to a PED in 2017 was low, they made up a disproportionate share of total visits. Differences between persistent and incidental frequent PED users suggest that these subgroups may benefit from tailored interventions to reduce frequent PED utilization.
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Walsh PS, Lipshaw MJ. Diurnal Variation in Frequency and Severity of Croup in the Emergency Department. Hosp Pediatr 2022; 12:e2022006682. [PMID: 36130916 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2022-006682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emergency department (ED) presentation for croup is thought to occur more often at night, but evidence for its diurnal variation is sparse. Our objectives were to describe the diurnal patterns of ED presentation in children with croup and to determine whether time of arrival associated with severe clinical outcomes. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System. We included children 3 months to 11 years of age with an ED encounter for croup from 2016 through 2020. We quantified ED encounters by arrival hour and used generalized linear mixed-effects models to determine association between arrival time and racemic epinephrine use, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and revisits. RESULTS There was considerable diurnal variation in ED visits for croup. A total of 126 186 children (60.1%) presented to the ED at night (between 8 pm and 8 am), and 83 763 children presented during the day (39.9%). Peak arrival time was 12:00 am (14 189 encounters) and the nadir was at 2:00 pm (5231 encounters). Children presenting during overnight hours had increased odds of the use of racemic epinephrine (odds ratio [OR] 1.33; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.30-1.36), but reduced odds of hospitalization (OR 0.76; 95% CI, 0.73-0.78), ICU admission (OR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.58-0.68), and 3 day ED revisits (OR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.83-0.90). CONCLUSIONS Children with croup present to the ED more commonly at night. Children presenting to the ED with croup at night have greater odds of being treated with racemic epinephrine, but reduced odds of hospitalization, ICU admission, and return visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Walsh
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Matthew J Lipshaw
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Walsh PS, Schnadower D, Zhang Y, Ramgopal S, Shah SS, Wilson PM. Assessment of Temporal Patterns and Patient Factors Associated With Oseltamivir Administration in Children Hospitalized With Influenza, 2007-2020. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2233027. [PMID: 36149655 PMCID: PMC9508650 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.33027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Oseltamivir therapy is recommended for all pediatric inpatients with influenza, particularly those with high-risk conditions, although data regarding its uptake and benefits are limited. OBJECTIVE To describe temporal patterns and independent patient factors associated with the use of oseltamivir and explore patterns in resource use and patient outcomes among children hospitalized with influenza. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This multicenter retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at 36 tertiary pediatric hospitals participating in the Pediatric Health Information System in the US. A total of 70 473 children younger than 18 years who were hospitalized with influenza between October 1, 2007, and March 31, 2020, were included. EXPOSURES Hospitalization with a diagnosis of influenza. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was the use of oseltamivir, which was described by influenza season and by hospital. Patient factors associated with oseltamivir use were assessed using multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models. Secondary outcomes were resource use (including antibiotic medications, chest radiography, supplemental oxygen, positive pressure ventilation, central venous catheter, and intensive care unit [ICU]) and patient outcomes (length of stay, late ICU transfer, 7-day hospital readmission, use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and in-hospital mortality), which were described as percentages per influenza season. RESULTS Among 70 473 children hospitalized with influenza, the median (IQR) age was 3.65 (1.05-8.26) years; 30 750 patients (43.6%) were female, and 39 715 (56.4%) were male. Overall, 16 559 patients (23.5%) were Black, 36 184 (51.3%) were White, 14 133 (20.1%) were of other races (including 694 American Indian or Alaska Native [1.0%], 2216 Asian [3.0%], 372 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander [0.5%], and 10 850 other races [15.4%]), and 3597 (5.1%) were of unknown race. A total of 47 071 patients (66.8%) received oseltamivir, increasing from a low of 20.2% in the 2007-2008 influenza season to a high of 77.9% in the 2017-2018 season. Use by hospital ranged from 43.2% to 79.7% over the entire study period and from 56.5% to 90.1% in final influenza season studied (2019-2020). Factors associated with increased oseltamivir use included the presence of a complex chronic condition (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.36-1.47), a history of asthma (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.23-1.38), and early severe illness (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.13-1.25). Children younger than 2 years (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77-0.85) and children aged 2 to 5 years (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.79-0.88) had lower odds of receiving oseltamivir. From the beginning (2007-2008) to the end (2019-2020) of the study period, the use of antibiotic medications (from 74.4% to 60.1%) and chest radiography (from 59.2% to 51.7%) decreased, whereas the use of oxygen (from 33.6% to 29.3%), positive pressure ventilation (from 10.8% to 7.9%), and central venous catheters (from 2.5% to 1.0%) did not meaningfully change. Patient outcomes, including length of stay (median [IQR], 3 [2-5] days for all seasons), readmissions within 7 days (from 4.0% to 3.4%), use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (from 0.5% to 0.5%), and in-hospital mortality (from 1.1% to 0.8%), were stable from the beginning to the end of the study period. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cross-sectional study of children hospitalized with influenza, the use of oseltamivir increased over time, particularly among patients with high-risk conditions, but with wide institutional variation. Patient outcomes remained largely unchanged. Further work is needed to evaluate the impact of oseltamivir therapy in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S. Walsh
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - David Schnadower
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Yin Zhang
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Sriram Ramgopal
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Samir S. Shah
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medicine Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Paria M. Wilson
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Lipshaw MJ, Walsh PS. Transient synovitis of the hip: Current practice and risk of misdiagnosis. Am J Emerg Med 2022; 61:1-6. [PMID: 35994972 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Transient synovitis (TS) is a common and benign cause of hip pain in children, but must be distinguished from more serious entities such as septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, and pyomyositis. Our objectives were to determine the risk of missed bacterial musculoskeletal infection and rates of diagnostic testing in children diagnosed with TS. METHODS We performed a cohort study using the Pediatric Heath Information System of children 1-10 years diagnosed with TS in the ED. We determined rates of missed bacterial musculoskeletal infection (defined as a new diagnosis of septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, or pyomyositis within 14 days of initial ED visit). We described the initial diagnostic evaluation and ED management of children diagnosed with TS and variability between sites. RESULTS We analyzed 6419 encounters from 37 hospitals. 62 (1.0%, 95%CI: 0.7-1.2%) children were diagnosed with a missed bacterial musculoskeletal infection. Children with missed infection were younger than those without (median age 2.6 vs. 4.6 years, p < 0.01). Serum laboratory testing was performed in 76% of encounters with minimal variation across sites. There was significant variation in the rates of hip ultrasound by site (2 to 92%), which has increased in use over time (from 42% in 2016 to 62% in 2021). CONCLUSION In this large observational study, missed bacterial musculoskeletal infection in children diagnosed with TS was rare but more common in younger children. The optimal combination of bloodwork and radiographic testing, especially ultrasound, to distinguish TS from more serious disease remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Lipshaw
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Patrick S Walsh
- Section of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Anyatonwu SC, Giannouchos TV, Washburn DJ, Quinonez RA, Ohsfeldt RL, Kum HC. Predictors of Pediatric Frequent Emergency Department Use Among 7.6 million Pediatric Patients in New York. Acad Pediatr 2022; 22:1073-1080. [PMID: 35385791 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examines the characteristics and factors associated with frequent emergency department (ED) utilization among the pediatric population. METHODS We conducted a pooled cross-sectional secondary analysis using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency and Inpatient Databases on ED visits to all hospitals in New York from 2011 to 2016 by patients aged 0 to 21. We used multivariable logistic and negative binomial regressions to investigate the predictors of multiple ED visits in the pediatric population. RESULTS Overall, our study included 7.6 million pediatric patients who accounted for more than 12 million ED visits. Of those, 6.2% of patients were frequent ED users (≥4 visits/year), accounting for 20.8% of all ED visits (5.4 ED visits/year on average). The strongest predictors of frequent ED use were having at least one ED visit related to asthma (aOR = 8.37 [95% CI: 6.34-11.04]), mental health disorders (aOR = 9.67 [95% CI: 8.60-10.89]), or multiple comorbidities compared to none. Larger shares of ED visits for not-emergent conditions were also associated with frequent ED use (aOR = 6.63 [95% CI = 5.08-8.65]). Being covered by Medicaid compared to private (aOR = 0.45 [95% CI: 0.42-0.47]) or no insurance (aOR = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.38-0.44]) were further associated with frequent ED use. The results from the negative binomial regression yielded consistent findings. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients who exhibit increased ED use are more medically complex and have increased healthcare needs that are inextricably tied to social determinants of health. Better integrated health systems should emphasize connecting vulnerable patients to appropriate social and primary care services outside of emergency settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia C Anyatonwu
- Population Informatics Lab, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, TV Giannouchos, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex; Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex
| | - Theodoros V Giannouchos
- Population Informatics Lab, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, TV Giannouchos, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex; Department of Health Services Policy & Management, Arnold School of Public Health (TV Giannouchos), University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
| | - David J Washburn
- Population Informatics Lab, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, TV Giannouchos, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex; Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex
| | - Ricardo A Quinonez
- Section of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine (RA Quinonez), Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Tex
| | - Robert L Ohsfeldt
- Population Informatics Lab, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, TV Giannouchos, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex; Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex
| | - Hye-Chung Kum
- Population Informatics Lab, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, TV Giannouchos, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex; Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Public Health (SC Anyatonwu, DJ Washburn, RL Ohsfeldt, and HC Kum), Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex
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Rosychuk RJ, Chen AA, McRae A, McLane P, Ospina MB, Hu XIJ. Age-varying effects of repeated emergency department presentations for children in Canada. J Health Serv Res Policy 2022; 27:278-286. [PMID: 35521743 PMCID: PMC9548929 DOI: 10.1177/13558196221094248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Repeated presentations to emergency departments (EDs) may indicate a lack of
access to other health care resources. Age is an important predictor of
frequent ED use; however, age-varying effects are not generally
investigated. This study examines the age-specific effects of predictors on
ED presentation frequency for children in Alberta and Ontario, Canada. Methods This retrospective study used population-based data during April 2010 to
March 2017. Data were extracted from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting
System for children aged <18 who were members of the top 10% of ED users
in any one of the fiscal years 2011/2012 to 2015/2016 along with a
comparison sample from the bottom 90%. A marginal regression model studied
the age-varying associations on the frequency of ED presentations with
province, sex, access to primary health care provider (for Ontario only),
area of residence and lowest neighbourhood income quintile. Results There were 2,481,172 patients who made 9,229,156 ED presentations. The
effects of sex, lowest income quintile, rural residence, access to primary
health care provider and province on the frequency of presentations varied
by age. Notably, boys go from having more frequent presentations than girls
when aged ≤5 (i.e. adjusted intensity ratio [IR]=1.04 at age 5, 95%
confidence interval [CI] = 1.03,1.06) to less frequent for ages 8–11 years
and beyond 14 (i.e. IR = 0.80 at age 15, 95% CI = 0.78,0.81). Adolescents
aged ≥15 without access to a primary care provider had more frequent
presentations compared to those with a primary care provider. Conclusions When examining the frequency of ED presentations in children, age-varying
effects of predictors should be considered. Our more nuanced examination of
age provides insights into how health services might better target
programmes for different ages to potentially reduce unnecessary ED use by
providing other health care alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda J Rosychuk
- Department of Pediatrics, 3158University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Anqi A Chen
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, 1763Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Andrew McRae
- Department of Emergency Medicine, 2129University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Patrick McLane
- Emergency Strategic Clinical Network, 3146Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Maria B Ospina
- Department of Pediatrics, 3158University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - X Iaoqiong Joan Hu
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, 1763Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Walsh PS, Gray JM, Ramgopal S, Lipshaw MJ. Risk of malignancy following emergency department Bell's palsy diagnosis in children. Am J Emerg Med 2022; 53:63-67. [PMID: 34992025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.12.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To quantify the risk of malignancy following the emergency department (ED) diagnosis of Bell's Palsy (BP) using a large retrospective cohort. STUDY DESIGN We performed a cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System database. We included all children (6 months - 17 years) from 2011 to 2020 with an ED diagnosis of BP. We excluded children with previous neurologic chronic condition or malignancy diagnosed during or prior to the index visit. Our primary outcome was diagnosis of malignancy within 60 days following the index ED visit. We compared clinical characteristics between children with and without new-onset malignancy. RESULTS Of 12,272 encounters for BP, 41 had a new oncologic diagnosis within 60 days (0.33%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25-0.45%). Median time to oncologic diagnosis was 22 days. Primary CNS malignancy (59%) and leukemia (17.1%) were the most common diagnoses. Younger children had a higher incidence of new oncologic diagnosis compared with older children. Incidences were 0.68% (95% CI 0.36-1.3%), 0.70% (95% CI 0.38-1.3%), 0.26% (95% CI 0.15-0.47%), and 0.21% (95% CI 0.12-0.37%) for children aged <2 years, 2-5 years, 6-11 years, and 12-17 years respectively. CONCLUSIONS We found a small but potentially clinically significant rate of new-onset oncologic diagnosis within 60 days after BP diagnosis in the ED, especially in children younger than 5 years. Further studies of the diagnostic utility of laboratory testing or neuroimaging and the risk of empiric steroids in children with BP are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Walsh
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America.
| | - James M Gray
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Sriram Ramgopal
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Matthew J Lipshaw
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
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Rosychuk RJ, Chen A, McRae A, McLane P, Ospina MB, Stang AS. Characteristics of Pediatric Frequent Users of Emergency Departments in Alberta and Ontario. Pediatr Emerg Care 2022; 38:108-114. [PMID: 34772876 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Emergency department (ED) volumes have drawn attention to frequent users but less attention has been paid to children. This study examined sociodemographic and ED presentation characteristics of pediatric high-system ED users (HSUs) in 2 provinces in Canada. METHODS Cohorts of HSUs were created from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System in 2015/2016 for children with the top 10% of ED presentations. Controls were random samples of non-HSU patients. Factors were explored in multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS There were 151,497 HSUs (51.7% girls, average age, 6.4 years) and 591,545 controls (53.1% girls; average age, 7.4 years). High-system ED users were more likely to be younger (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.89 per 5 years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.89), live in less populated areas (aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.82-1.88), and from lowest income neighborhoods (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.48-1.54) than controls. High-system ED users had higher proportions of presentations for pediatric complex chronic (aOR, 1.25 per 0.25 increase; 95% CI, 1.21-1.29), respiratory (aOR, 1.14 per 0.25; 95% CI, 1.12-1.15), and mental health (aOR, 1.14 per 0.25; 95% CI, 1.13-1.16) conditions than controls. CONCLUSIONS Complex factors underlie pediatric health care utilization decisions. Findings identified conditions to target in interventions to improve health care access and utilization. Future work should engage children and families to design interventions.
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Zhou AZ, Marin JR, Hickey RW, Lam SK, Ramgopal S. Serious diagnoses at revisits in children discharged from the emergency department with back pain. Acad Emerg Med 2021; 28:1299-1307. [PMID: 34245643 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Back pain is often benign but can be a harbinger for serious pathology. Little is known about the outcome in children with back pain but no serious diagnoses detected at the initial visit. We sought to estimate the rate of serious diagnoses at revisits among children initially discharged from the emergency department (ED) with back pain. METHODS We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients from 45 pediatric hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System database from October 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019. We included patients discharged from the ED with a principal diagnosis of back pain and excluded patients with trauma and concurrent or previously known serious diagnoses. We identified the rates and types of serious diagnoses made within 30 days of the index visit. We examined the rates of diagnostic tests at the index visit in patients with and without serious diagnoses. RESULTS Of the 25,130 patients with back pain, 88 (0.4%, 95% confidence interval = 0.3% to 0.4%) had serious pathology diagnosed within 30 days. The most common diagnoses were anatomic (40%) and nonneurologic (39%) categories such as vertebral fracture and nephrolithiasis; infectious (19%) and neoplastic etiologies (3%) were less common. Diagnoses requiring acute interventions such as cauda equina syndrome (n = 2) and intraspinal abscess (n = 3) were rare. Patients with serious diagnoses at revisits underwent more blood tests and back ultrasound at the index visit compared to patients without serious diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS In pediatric patients discharged from the ED with a diagnosis of back pain and no serious or trauma diagnoses, there is a low rate of serious pathology on revisits. Of the serious diagnoses identified, high-acuity diseases were rare. For the subset of patients with clinical suspicion for serious pathology but none identified at the index visit, this represents an opportunity for further research to optimize their management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Z. Zhou
- Division of Emergency Medicine Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USA
| | - Jennifer R. Marin
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department of Pediatrics UPMC Children’s Hospital of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Robert W. Hickey
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department of Pediatrics UPMC Children’s Hospital of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Sandi K. Lam
- Department of Neurosurgery Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USA
| | - Sriram Ramgopal
- Division of Emergency Medicine Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois USA
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13
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Greenfield G, Okoli O, Quezada-Yamamoto H, Blair M, Saxena S, Majeed A, Hayhoe B. Characteristics of frequently attending children in hospital emergency departments: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e051409. [PMID: 34663662 PMCID: PMC8523960 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarise the literature on frequent attendances to hospital emergency departments (EDs) and describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children who attend EDs frequently. SETTING Hospital EDs. PARTICIPANTS Children <21 years, attending hospital EDs frequently. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes measures were defined separately in each study, and were predominantly the number of ED attendances per year. RESULTS We included 21 studies representing 6 513 627 children. Between 0.3% and 75% of all paediatric ED users were frequent users. Most studies defined four or more visits per year as a 'frequent ED' usage. Children who were frequent ED users were more likely to be less than 5 years old. In the USA, patients with public insurance were more likely to be frequent attenders. Frequent ED users more likely to be frequent users of primary care and have long-term conditions; the most common diagnoses were infections and gastroenteritis. CONCLUSIONS The review included a wide range of information across various health systems, however, children who were frequent ED users have some universal characteristics in common. Policies to reduce frequent attendance might usefully focus on preschool children and supporting primary care in responding to primary care oriented conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geva Greenfield
- Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Olivia Okoli
- Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Harumi Quezada-Yamamoto
- Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mitch Blair
- Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sonia Saxena
- Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Azeem Majeed
- Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Benedict Hayhoe
- Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Fang A, Hersh M, Birgisson N, Saynina O, Wang NE. "Could we have predicted this?" The association of a future mental health need in young people with a non-specific complaint and frequent emergency department visits. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2021; 2:e12556. [PMID: 34632448 PMCID: PMC8495458 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mental health emergencies among young people are increasing. There is growing pressure for emergency departments to screen patients for mental health needs even when it is not their chief complaint. We hypothesized that young people with an initial non-specific condition and emergency department (ED) revisits have increased mental health needs. METHODS Retrospective, observational study of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Emergency Department Discharge Dataset (2010-2014) of young people (11-24 years) with an index visit for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic codes of "Symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions" (Non-Specific); "Diseases of the respiratory system" (Respiratory) and "Unintentional injury" (Trauma) who were discharged from a California ED. Patients were excluded if they had a prior mental health visit, chronic disease, or were pregnant. ED visit frequency was counted over 12 months. Regression models were created to analyze characteristics associated with a mental health visit. RESULTS Patients in the Non-Specific category compared to the Respiratory category had 1.2 times the odds of a future mental health visit (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.17-1.24). Patients with ≥1 ED revisit, regardless of diagnostic category, had 1.3 times the odds of a future mental health visit. Patients with both a Non-Specific index visit and 1, 2, and 3 or more revisits with non-specific diagnoses had increasing odds of a mental health visit (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.29-1.47; OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.46-1.98; OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.70-2.87, respectively.). CONCLUSIONS Young people who go to the ED for non-specific conditions and revisits may benefit from targeted ED mental health screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Fang
- Department of Emergency MedicineStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Melissa Hersh
- Department of Emergency MedicineValley Children's HospitalMaderaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Natalia Birgisson
- Department of Emergency MedicineStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Olga Saynina
- Stanford Center for PolicyOutcomes and PreventionStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nancy E Wang
- Department of Emergency MedicineStanford University School of MedicinePalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
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Tiller R, Chan K, Knight JC, Chafe R. Pediatric high users of Canadian hospitals and emergency departments. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251330. [PMID: 33956897 PMCID: PMC8101750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies have examined the most frequent pediatric users of hospital services. Our objective was to determine the clinical diagnoses, demographic characteristics, and medical severity of high-use pediatric patients in Canada. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients <18 years of age who either were admitted to hospital or visited an emergency department (ED) using the Canadian Institute for Health Information's (CIHI) Dynamic Cohort of Complex, High System Users. The analysis of hospital admission data excluded Quebec and Manitoba. ED data was only available for Alberta and Ontario. RESULTS 121 104 patients were identified as the most frequent hospital users and 459 998 patients as the most frequent ED users. High users were more likely to reside in a rural community, to be in a lower income quintile, and face more deprivation. The most frequent conditions for hospitalization for high use patients were disorders related to length of prematurity and fetal growth, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders specific to the perinatal period, and haemorrhagic and haematological disorders of fetus and newborn. For the most frequent ED users, the most common clinical diagnoses were acute upper respiratory infections, injuries to the head, and diseases of the middle ear and mastoid. CONCLUSION Pediatric high users by frequency of hospital and ED services are a distinct population. Better understanding their characteristics will allow for more appropriate planning of children's health services and help identify areas for effective preventive or quality improvement initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Tiller
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Kevin Chan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - John C. Knight
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Roger Chafe
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Janeway Pediatric Research Unit, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Lázaro Carreño MI, Barrés Fernández A, Quintero García D, Ferrer Ferrer J, Fernández González I, Monfort Belenguer L, Iniesta González S, Moreno Palomino A, Sahuquillo SC, Cuevas FJS. Paediatric Emergencies During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Glob Pediatr Health 2021; 8:2333794X21989528. [PMID: 33623811 PMCID: PMC7878947 DOI: 10.1177/2333794x21989528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The state of alarm decreed by the Spanish Government, due to the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, has demanded the lockdown of children and has conditioned a new organization of the Emergency Departments (ED). A pre-triage station and 2 independent circuits were established: suspected COVID-19 and not suspected COVID-19. The ED visits decreased 84,5% from pre-alarm with no increase in the level of urgencies. During the alarm state, 40.97% of the children were classified as suspected COVID-19. Fever and respiratory symptoms, used as discriminators, generated 2 groups of patients with different characteristics. Although the interruption of sports activities and isolation of children at home contributed to the decrease in emergencies, it was also probably conditioned by adults' fear of contagion, who avoided going to the hospital in situations that would never have really required ED and resolved themselves in primary care or spontaneously.
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17
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Giannouchos TV, Washburn DJ, Gary JC, Foster MJ. Frequent emergency department use in the paediatric population: A systematic literature review. J Eval Clin Pract 2021; 27:193-203. [PMID: 32141125 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We systematically reviewed the literature on paediatric frequent emergency department (ED) users to identify and to synthesize characteristics and factors associated with frequent ED utilization among this population in the United States. METHODS We searched Medline (Ovid), CINAHL (Ebsco), and Embase (Ovid) to identify all relevant studies after 1990. We focused on US studies analysing paediatric frequent ED (PFED) users excluding those focused on specific subgroups. Two reviewers independently selected articles and extracted data on predisposing, enabling, behavioural, need and reinforcing factors. RESULTS Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. PFED users comprised 3% to 14% of all paediatric ED users and accounted for 9% to 42% of all paediatric ED visits in 11 studies that defined frequent use as four to six ED visits per year. Most PFED users were less than 5 years old who had public insurance coverage and a regular provider. Public insurance compared to private residency in disadvantaged areas, having at least one chronic or complex condition and a history of hospitalization, were associated with frequent use. Children who had a regular primary care provider were less likely to exhibit frequent ED use. CONCLUSIONS Minimizing unnecessary ED visits by frequent utilizers is a quality improvement and cost-saving priority for health systems. Our findings indicate that many PFED users have greater healthcare needs and face barriers accessing care in a timely manner, even though some have regular providers. To better address the needs of this vulnerable group, health systems should focus on educating caregivers and expanding access to providers in other settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros V Giannouchos
- School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.,Population Informatics Lab, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - David J Washburn
- School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jodie C Gary
- Health Science Center College of Nursing, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, USA
| | - Margaret J Foster
- Medical Sciences Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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18
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Brandenberger J, Pohl C, Vogt F, Tylleskär T, Ritz N. Health care provided to recent asylum-seeking and non-asylum-seeking pediatric patients in 2016 and 2017 at a Swiss tertiary hospital - a retrospective study. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:81. [PMID: 33413242 PMCID: PMC7791630 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-10082-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Asylum-seeking children represent an increasing and vulnerable group of patients whose health needs are largely unmet. Data on the health care provision to asylum-seeking children in European contexts is scarce. In this study we compare the health care provided to recent asylum-seeking and non-asylum-seeking children at a Swiss tertiary hospital. Methods We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study in a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Basel, Switzerland. All patients and visits from January 2016 to December 2017 were identified, using administrative and medical electronic health records. The asylum-seeking status was systematically assessed and the patients were allocated accordingly in the two study groups. Results A total of 202,316 visits by 55,789 patients were included, of which asylum-seeking patients accounted for 1674 (1%) visits by 439 (1%) individuals. The emergency department recorded the highest number of visits in both groups with a lower proportion in asylum-seeking compared to non-asylum-seeking children: 19% (317/1674) and 32% (64,315/200,642) respectively. The median number of visits per patient was 1 (IQR 1–2) in the asylum-seeking and 2 (IQR 1–4) in the non-asylum-seeking children. Hospital admissions were more common in asylum-seeking compared to non-asylum-seeking patients with 11% (184/1674) and 7% (14,692/200,642). Frequent visits (> 15 visits per patient) accounted for 48% (807/1674) of total visits in asylum-seeking and 25% (49,886/200,642) of total visits in non-asylum-seeking patients. Conclusions Hospital visits by asylum-seeking children represented a small proportion of all visits. The emergency department had the highest number of visits in all patients but was less frequently used by asylum-seeking children. Frequent care suggests that asylum-seeking patients also present with more complex diseases. Further studies are needed, focusing on asylum-seeking children with medical complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Brandenberger
- University of Basel Children's Hospital, Migrant Health Service, Spitalstrasse 33, 4056, Basel, Switzerland. .,Pediatric Emergency Department, University Children's Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Christian Pohl
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Perth Children's and Kind Edward Memorial Hospitals, Perth, Australia
| | - Florian Vogt
- Unit of NTDs, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Nicole Ritz
- University of Basel Children's Hospital, Migrant Health Service, Spitalstrasse 33, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel Children's Hospital, Pediatric Infectious Disease and Vaccinology, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Pediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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19
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Zhou AZ, Marin JR, Hickey RW, Ramgopal S. Serious Diagnoses for Headaches After ED Discharge. Pediatrics 2020; 146:peds.2020-1647. [PMID: 33008843 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2020-1647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Headache is a common complaint among children presenting to the emergency department (ED) and can be due to serious neurologic and nonneurologic diagnoses (SNNDs). We sought to characterize the children discharged from the ED with headache found to have SNNDs at revisits. METHODS We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study using data from 45 pediatric hospitals from October 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019. We included pediatric patients (≤18 years) discharged from the ED with a principal diagnosis of headache, excluding patients with concurrent or previous SNNDs or neurosurgeries. We identified rates and types of SNNDs diagnosed within 30 days of initial visit and compared these rates with those of control groups defined as patients with discharge diagnoses of cough, chest pain, abdominal pain, and soft tissue complaints. RESULTS Of 121 621 included patients (57% female, median age 12.4 years, interquartile range: 8.8-15.4), 608 (0.5%, 95% confidence interval: 0.5%-0.5%) were diagnosed with SNNDs within 30 days. Most were diagnosed at the first revisit (80.8%); 37.5% were diagnosed within 7 days. The most common SNNDs were benign intracranial hypertension, cerebral edema and compression, and seizures. A greater proportion of patients with SNNDs underwent neuroimaging, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid testing compared with those without SNNDs (P < .001 for each). The proportion of SNNDs among patients diagnosed with headache (0.5%) was higher than for control cohorts (0.0%-0.1%) (P < .001 for each). CONCLUSIONS A total 0.5% of pediatric patients discharged from the ED with headache were diagnosed with an SNND within 30 days. Further efforts to identify at-risk patients remain a challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Z Zhou
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois;
| | - Jennifer R Marin
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and.,Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert W Hickey
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and
| | - Sriram Ramgopal
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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Chiu Y, Racine-Hemmings F, Dufour I, Vanasse A, Chouinard MC, Bisson M, Hudon C. Statistical tools used for analyses of frequent users of emergency department: a scoping review. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e027750. [PMID: 31129592 PMCID: PMC6537981 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Frequent users represent a small proportion of emergency department users, but they account for a disproportionately large number of visits. Their use of emergency departments is often considered suboptimal. It would be more efficient to identify and treat those patients earlier in their health problem trajectory. It is therefore essential to describe their characteristics and to predict their emergency department use. In order to do so, adequate statistical tools are needed. The objective of this study was to determine the statistical tools used in identifying variables associated with frequent use or predicting the risk of becoming a frequent user. METHODS We performed a scoping review following an established 5-stage methodological framework. We searched PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL databases in February 2019 using search strategies defined with the help of an information specialist. Out of 4534 potential abstracts, we selected 114 articles based on defined criteria and presented in a content analysis. RESULTS We identified four classes of statistical tools. Regression models were found to be the most common practice, followed by hypothesis testing. The logistic regression was found to be the most used statistical tool, followed by χ2 test and t-test of associations between variables. Other tools were marginally used. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review lists common statistical tools used for analysing frequent users in emergency departments. It highlights the fact that some are well established while others are much less so. More research is needed to apply appropriate techniques to health data or to diversify statistical point of views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohann Chiu
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - François Racine-Hemmings
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Dufour
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alain Vanasse
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Mathieu Bisson
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine Hudon
- Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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