Adolescent admissions to a tertiary paediatric hospital: a dynamic pattern

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Adolescent Medicine
• Hospital Management

Background:

• Adolescent inpatient facilities in Australia were established in the 1980s to manage chronic illness and disability in young people.
• There is limited published data on adolescent hospital admission patterns, including unit, length of stay, and reasons for admission.
• A 12-year audit was conducted in Victoria, Australia, to analyze hospitalization trends in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review hospitalization patterns of adolescents admitted to a tertiary hospital.
• To provide data for healthcare policy and planning for adolescent health services.
• To understand the demographics and admission trends within dedicated adolescent units.

Main Methods:

• A 12-year retrospective audit (1990-2001) of adolescent admissions (aged 10+ years) at the Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
• Analysis of annual admission numbers to the Adolescent Inpatient Unit and admissions under the Adolescent Medicine Unit.
• Identification of the primary medical and surgical units admitting adolescents.

Main Results:

• Adolescents accounted for nearly 30% of all hospital admissions during the study period.
• Admissions to the Adolescent Inpatient Unit nearly doubled over the 12 years.
• Annual admissions under the Adolescent Medicine Unit increased significantly, from 38 to 288, with most adolescents admitted to specialty medical and surgical units.

Conclusions:

• Nearly one-third of admissions to this tertiary children's hospital are adolescents (10+ years old).
• Findings support the development of healthcare policies and planning that address the specific health and developmental needs of adolescents.
• The data underscores the significant and growing presence of adolescents within pediatric hospital settings.