Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
[Why do patients use hospital emergency services on their own initiative?]
Jesús M Aranaz Andrés1, Rafael Martínez Nogueras, M Teresa Gea Velázquez de Castro
1Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, España. aranaz_jes@gva.es
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to determine the reasons why patients use hospital emergency services (HES) on their own initiative and the characteristics of these users.
Method:
An ad hoc questionnaire was designed and applied by consecutive selection to patients who could have waited for medical care (level 1 triage) over a 1-week period in November 2002.
Results:
A total of 348 patients completed the questionnaire; 82.5% attended on their own initiative; of these, 17.7% reported they did not know how Primary Care worked in relation to the Emergency Services; 18.8% consulted a Primary Care physician; 55.0% preferred the HES and 13.5% attended because of a delay in another health care setting. Half the patients (50.5%) were younger than 40 years old and 9.2% were foreigners.
Conclusions:
Changes in health services' consumption patterns could jeopardize the public health system unless supply is adapted to the demand expressed and/or interventions are performed to educate the public in rational health services' consumption.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hospitals-I
Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in hospitals have...
Bystander Effect
Secondary Healthcare System
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...

