Factors associated with emergency department utilization for nonurgent pediatric problems

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Utilization Studies
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Over 20 million children annually seek care in US emergency departments (EDs).
• A significant proportion, between 33% and 50%, of these ED visits are for nonurgent medical conditions.
• This pattern of nonurgent ED use strains healthcare resources and impacts patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine specific caretaker and utilization factors that predict the use of emergency departments for nonurgent pediatric care.
• To identify characteristics of caregivers that lead to nonurgent emergency department visits.
• To inform interventions aimed at optimizing healthcare resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study was conducted over a 6-month period.
• Data were collected from 200 caretakers and children presenting to two urban hospital EDs for nonacute medical care.
• A questionnaire assessed caretaker characteristics and reasons for ED use for nonurgent child health issues.

Main Results:

• Most caretakers (92%) reported having a regular physician for their children.
• Caretakers who were taken to the ED as children themselves were more likely to use EDs for nonurgent care (P<.002).
• Medicaid insurance (P<.001) and being a single parent (P<.05) were significant predictors of nonurgent ED visits.

Conclusions:

• Identifying caretakers at risk for nonurgent ED use allows primary care physicians to intervene.
• Interventions can promote more cost-effective healthcare utilization for pediatric nonurgent conditions.
• Understanding these predictors can help manage ED resources more efficiently.