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Abstract
Aim of Study: To explore
parents’ perspectives
regarding why parents (caregivers)
prefer to escort their less
urgent, or non-urgent sick
children to the emergency
departments (EDs) instead
of using other more appropriate
healthcare services.
Methods:
This study followed a quantitative
cross-sectional design at
Khamis Mushayt Maternity and
Children’s Hospital (KMMCH).
A study questionnaire was
designed by the researchers
to interview parents of 400
children who inappropriately
attended the ED to identify
the reasons for their inappropriate
attendance at the ED. Data
collection was performed during
the period of January 2023
to explore the proportions
of different attendances that
were deemed inappropriate
according to the hospital’s
followed triage system. The
interviews were conducted
with parents/caregivers of
non-urgent and less urgent
children during their waiting
times.
Results:
The age of 18.3% of parents
was <30 years, while 28.5%
were 30-39 years old. More
than half of the parents’
visits were non-urgent, while
43.25% were less-urgent, 55.3%
of patients visited the ED
before due to similar complaints,
while 46% visited a primary
health care center before
their ED visits. The main
reasons for visiting the ED
instead of the primary healthcare
centers (PHCCs) were to save
time (49.3%) and to get an
earlier appointment (48%).
Patients’ triage levels
differed significantly according
to parents’ age groups
(p<0.001), nationality
(p=0.022), educational level
(p=0.022), ED visits for similar
complaints (p<0.001), and
previously visiting the PHCC
for the current health problem
(p=0.002). Triage levels also
differed significantly according
to some reasons for choosing
to go to the ED instead of
the PHCC, especially to get
an earlier appointment (p=0.044),
preferring the healthcare
services provided by the ED
(p=0.005), having a nearby
ED (p=0.001), or being at
the hospital at that time
(p=0.002).
Conclusions:
There is a clear relationship
between inappropriate ED visits
and certain associated factors,
indicating that prevention
would be best targeted to
certain categories, such as
Saudi, younger, and educated
parents. The main reasons
for inappropriate ED visits
are to save time and to avoid
getting a late appointment.
Recommendations:
This study emphasized the
importance of implementing
proper health education and
redirection of patients with
inappropriate ED visits. Conducting
a detailed analysis of the
shortages in the utilization
of primary healthcare resources
is a pressing necessity. Further
nationwide research on patients’
perspective for non-urgent
ED presentations is largely
needed.
Key
Words: Emergency Department,
Triage, Children, Non-urgent
level, Less urgent level.
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