Why do parents bring children to the emergency department for nonurgent conditions? A qualitative study. Ambul Pediatr 2008;8(6):360-7
Date
12/17/2008Pubmed ID
19084785DOI
10.1016/j.ambp.2008.07.001Scopus ID
2-s2.0-58849120563 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 142 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Nonurgent conditions account for 58% to 82% of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits, but only 1 preliminary qualitative study has examined reasons why parents bring children to the ED for nonurgent care. The aim of this study was to identify parents' reasons for choosing the ED over their primary care provider (PCP) for nonurgent pediatric care.
METHODS: Audiotaped ethnographic interviews in English and Spanish were conducted of parents of children presenting for nonurgent care on weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM at a children's hospital ED over a 4-week period.
RESULTS: For the 31 families interviewed, the mean parental age was 28 years, and mean child age, 3 years. Reasons cited by caregivers for choosing the ED over their child's PCP were long appointment waits, dissatisfaction with the PCP, communication problems (accents and unhelpful staff at PCP), health care provider referral, efficiency, ED resources, convenience, quality of care, and ED expertise with children. Some parents said they would like education on the urgency of pediatric problems.
CONCLUSIONS: Parents bring their children to the ED for nonurgent care because of problems with their PCP, PCP referral, and perceived advantages to ED care. Although parents report that education on the urgency of pediatric conditions would be helpful, substantial reduction of pediatric nonurgent ED use may require improvements in families' PCP office access, efficiency, experiences, and appointment scheduling.
Author List
Berry A, Brousseau D, Brotanek JM, Tomany-Korman S, Flores GMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Anthropology, Cultural
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Health Services Misuse
Hospitals, Pediatric
Humans
Infant
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Parents
Patient Satisfaction
Physician-Patient Relations
Primary Health Care
Referral and Consultation
Wisconsin
Young Adult
