Exploring perceptions of parents on the use of emergency department on-site primary care services for the treatment of children with non-urgent conditions

Sam, M, Cook, DL, Rowland, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9564-0032 and Butler, J 2021, 'Exploring perceptions of parents on the use of emergency department on-site primary care services for the treatment of children with non-urgent conditions' , Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, 44 (4) , pp. 285-302.

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Abstract

Objective: To understand the reasons parents of children with minor conditions attend the Children’s Emergency Department (ED), and their views about on-site paediatric same day care (SDC) service as an alternative treatment centre.

Method: A cross-sectional survey of parents attending an inner-city, district general hospital children’s ED, with children aged under 16 years old who were allocated to low triage categories. A convenience sample of 58 parents of 58 children were recruited.

Results: All the 58 responses were analysed. Incomplete questionnaires were not excluded. 47% of attendances were because of minor injury. Most presentations were within 24 hours of the injury or illness. 72% of parents were employed. 91% were registered with a General Practitioner (GP). 29% contacted a GP before the ED visit. The majority of participants who contacted a GP were referred to the ED; others were advised to wait to see if the child’s condition improved and to attend the ED if there were any concerns or the child deteriorated in any way. 50% of those that did not contact GP said the GP surgery was closed and 8% felt the GP could not help. 90% of parents perceived their child’s condition as urgent requiring immediate treatment. 33% of parents said they would be happy for their children to be treated at an on-site Same Day Care (SDC) Centre.

Conclusions: The study showed limited access to GP services in the community and dissatisfaction with community services and perceived urgency of treatment prompted parents of children with minor conditions to attend the ED. This could mean significant ED attendance by children with minor conditions. The majority of the parents in the study would welcome an on-site paediatric SDC if appropriate to meet their children’s care needs. Establishing an on-site SDC may help relieve the ED pressures to attend to more clinically urgent and emergency cases.

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