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Biagioli V, Pol A, Gawronski O, Carlin C, Cirulli L, Piga S, Stelitano R, Offidani C, Raucci U, Reale A, Tiozzo E, Villani A, Dall'Oglio I. Pediatric patients accessing Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) for non-urgent treatment: Why do parents take their children to the A&E? Int Emerg Nurs 2021; 58:101053. [PMID: 34520965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2021.101053] [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: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION About 20-30% of children access the Pediatric Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) for non-urgent health care that should normally follow other health care paths. This study aimed to investigate why parents take their children to the A&E for non-urgent visits rather than using primary care services. METHODS A one-year cross-sectional study was conducted in a large pediatric A&E in Italy. A paper-and-pencil 40-item questionnaire was administered to parents of children aged between 3 months to 6 years who accessed the A&E for non-urgent visits between July 2018 and June 2019. RESULTS Parents of 238 children completed the questionnaire (mean age = 2.6 years; male 58%). The most common symptoms were fever (n = 105; 44.1%) and skin rash (n = 63; 26.5%); symptoms usually started more than 24 h earlier (n = 163; 69.4%). Reasons for accessing the A&E for non-urgent visits included the availability of rapid medical tests (n = 71; 29.8%), deterioration of the clinical conditions after the pediatrician's visit (n = 67; 28.2%), and the perceived need for urgent care (n = 65; 27.3%). Besides, 26.6% (n = 63) of parents reported not being able to contact their pediatrician before accessing A&E. CONCLUSION Parents may need further education to distinguish between urgent and non-urgent pediatric health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Biagioli
- Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Pol
- Professional Development, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Orsola Gawronski
- Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Claudia Carlin
- Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Luisa Cirulli
- Professional Development, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Simone Piga
- Bachelor for Pediatric Nursing, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
| | - Rocco Stelitano
- Professional Development, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Caterina Offidani
- Paediatric Emergency Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Umberto Raucci
- Professional Development, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonino Reale
- Professional Development, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Tiozzo
- Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alberto Villani
- Professional Development, Continuing Education and Research Service, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Immacolata Dall'Oglio
- Academic Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
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