Dataset Information

Minor illness and injury: factors influencing attendance at a paediatric accident and emergency department.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To gather information on children with minor illness or injury presenting to a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department and the decision making process leading to their attendance.

Methods

Prospective questionnaire based survey of 465 children selected by systematic sampling from A&E attenders allocated to the lowest triage category.

Results

The study population was statistically representative of the total population of A&E attenders. The lower deprivation categories were over represented. Educational attainment, childcare experience, and parental coping skills were important in relation to A&E attendance. More children attended with injury as opposed to illness. There were no significant demographic differences between those children who presented directly to A&E and those who made prior contact with a GP. Just under half the study population had made contact with a general practitioner (GP) before attending A&E. The majority of those children were directly referred to A&E at that point. GPs referred equivalent numbers of children with illness and injury.

Conclusions

Parents and GPs view paediatric A&E departments as an appropriate place to seek treatment for children with minor illness or injury.

SUBMITTER: Hendry SJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1720434 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Minor illness and injury: factors influencing attendance at a paediatric accident and emergency department.

Hendry S J SJ Beattie T F TF Heaney D D

Archives of disease in childhood 20050601 6

<h4>Aims</h4>To gather information on children with minor illness or injury presenting to a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department and the decision making process leading to their attendance.<h4>Methods</h4>Prospective questionnaire based survey of 465 children selected by systematic sampling from A&E attenders allocated to the lowest triage category.<h4>Results</h4>The study population was statistically representative of the total population of A&E attenders. The lower deprivation c ...[more]

PMID: 15908631

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Project description:BackgroundDuring the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were raised about reduced attendance at hospitals, particularly in paediatric emergency departments, which could result in preventable poorer outcomes and late presentations among children requiring emergency care. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on health-seeking behaviour and decision-making processes of caregivers presenting to paediatric emergency services at a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in London.Materials and methodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study (survey and semi-structured interviews) across two hospital sites between November-December 2020. Data from each study were collected concurrently followed by data comparison.ResultsOverall, 100 caregivers participated in our study; 80 completed the survey only, two completed the interview only and 18 completed both. Our quantitative study found that almost two-thirds (63%, n = 62) of caregivers attended the department within two days of their child becoming ill. Our qualitative study identified three major themes which were underpinned by concepts of trust, safety and uncertainty and were assessed in relation to the temporal nature of the pandemic and the caregivers' journey to care. We found most caregivers balanced their concerns of COVID-19 and a perceived "overwhelmed" NHS by speaking to trusted sources, predominantly general practitioners (GPs).ConclusionCaregivers have adapted their health-seeking behaviour throughout the pandemic as new information and guidance have been released. We identified several factors affecting decisions to attend; some existed before the pandemic (e.g., concerns for child's health) whilst others were due to the pandemic (e.g., perceived risks of transmission when accessing healthcare services). We recommend trusted medical professionals, particularly GPs, continue to provide reassurance to caregivers to seek emergency paediatric care when required. Communicating the hospital safety procedures and the importance of early intervention to caregivers could additionally provide reassurance to those concerned about the risks of accessing the hospital environment.

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Dataset Information

Minor illness and injury: factors influencing attendance at a paediatric accident and emergency department.

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Minor illness and injury: factors influencing attendance at a paediatric accident and emergency department.

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