OBJECTIVE: This study explored the care-giving and care-seeking behaviours of parents who took their children to the emergency department (ED) of a large urban hospital in Western Canada for non-urgent care. METHOD: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 114 parents during a two-week period in January 1992, using a self-administered 53-item questionnaire. The data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics (Chi-square) and thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of parents were unsure of or overestimated the seriousness of their child's illness or injury. Prior to attending the ED, 40% of parents administered comfort measures and 45% gave medications. Only 17% of parents used at-home reading materials, while 31% sought lay advice. Fifty-eight percent of parents did not try to contact their family physician or the ED by telephone before coming to the ED. Forty-eight percent of parents who phoned their family physician were unable to obtain advice, and those who did were almost always referred to the ED. Eighty-eight percent of those who phoned the ED were instructed to bring the child to the ED. INTERPRETATION: The results suggest the need for more acceptable, accessible community primary care services.
OBJECTIVE: This study explored the care-giving and care-seeking behaviours of parents who took their children to the emergency department (ED) of a large urban hospital in Western Canada for non-urgent care. METHOD: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 114 parents during a two-week period in January 1992, using a self-administered 53-item questionnaire. The data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics (Chi-square) and thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of parents were unsure of or overestimated the seriousness of their child's illness or injury. Prior to attending the ED, 40% of parents administered comfort measures and 45% gave medications. Only 17% of parents used at-home reading materials, while 31% sought lay advice. Fifty-eight percent of parents did not try to contact their family physician or the ED by telephone before coming to the ED. Forty-eight percent of parents who phoned their family physician were unable to obtain advice, and those who did were almost always referred to the ED. Eighty-eight percent of those who phoned the ED were instructed to bring the child to the ED. INTERPRETATION: The results suggest the need for more acceptable, accessible community primary care services.
Authors: H Bauchner; P L McCarthy; S D Sznajderman; M A Baron; H D Fink; B Forsyth; K Lustman-Findling; D V Cicchetti Journal: J Dev Behav Pediatr Date: 1987-10 Impact factor: 2.225
Authors: Simon Leigh; Bimal Mehta; Lillian Dummer; Harriet Aird; Sinead McSorley; Venessa Oseyenum; Anna Cumbers; Mary Ryan; Karl Edwardson; Phil Johnston; Jude Robinson; Frans Coenen; David Taylor-Robinson; Louis W Niessen; Enitan D Carrol Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2020-12-28 Impact factor: 5.386
Authors: Anita J Gagnon; Franco Carnevale; Praem Mehta; Hélène Rousseau; Donna E Stewart Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-05-14 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Laurie Smith; Yajur Narang; David Taylor-Robinson; Enitan Carrol; Ana Belen Ibarz Pavon; Karl Edwardson; Simon Bowers; Katharine Jones; Steve Lane; Mary Ryan Journal: BMJ Qual Saf Date: 2017-09-29 Impact factor: 7.035