Understanding decisions leading to nonurgent visits to the paediatric emergency department: caregivers’ perspectives
Autor: | E-Lin Tessa Ong, Li Wu, Phek Hui Jade Kua, Jinmian Luther Yiew, Sharon C. Sung, Xing Hui Michelle Thia, Zi Ying Lim |
---|---|
Rok vydání: | 2016 |
Předmět: |
Male
Emergency Medical Services Adolescent media_common.quotation_subject Decision Making Psychological intervention Mothers Primary care Pediatrics Grounded theory Cohort Studies Fathers 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine 030225 pediatrics medicine Emergency medical services Craniocerebral Trauma Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Child Respiratory Tract Infections media_common Singapore business.industry Infant Newborn Infant General Medicine Patient Acceptance of Health Care Hospitals Pediatric medicine.disease Epistaxis Caregivers Child Preschool Cohort Female Original Article Medical emergency Emergencies Emergency Service Hospital business Welfare Paediatric emergency Cohort study |
Zdroj: | Singapore Medical Journal. 57:314-319 |
ISSN: | 0037-5675 |
Popis: | Introduction A significant percentage of paediatric emergency department (ED) attendances worldwide are nonurgent, adversely affecting patient outcomes and healthcare systems. This study aimed to understand the reasons behind nonurgent ED visits, in order to develop targeted and effective preventive interventions. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 49 caregivers to identify the decision-making factors related to taking children to the ED of KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. Interviews were carried out in the emergency room of the hospital after the children had been diagnosed with nonurgent conditions by the attending physician. Interview transcripts were analysed based on grounded theory principles. Results The demographics of our study cohort were representative of the target population. The main reasons given by the caregivers for attending paediatric EDs included perceived severity of the child's symptoms, availability of after-hours care, perceived advantage of a paediatric specialist hospital and mistrust of primary care physicians' ability to manage paediatric conditions. Insurance or welfare was a contributing factor for only a small portion of caregivers. Conclusion The reasons provided by Singaporean caregivers for attending paediatric EDs were similar to those reported in studies conducted in Western countries. However, the former group had a unique understanding of the local healthcare system. The study's findings may be used to develop interventions to change the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of caregivers in Singapore. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
Externí odkaz: |