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Parental anxiety and affecting factors in acute paediatric blunt head injury

M Serinken1, A Kocyigit2, O Karcioglu3

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Turkey.

Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ
|May 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Parental anxiety in children with head injury decreases with neurosurgical consultation, but not with radiological investigations. Lower education levels correlate with higher initial anxiety and greater anxiety reduction.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Trauma Care
  • Psychological Impact of Injury

Background:

  • Parental anxiety is a significant concern for children presenting with head injuries to the emergency department.
  • Understanding factors influencing parental anxiety is crucial for improving patient and family care in pediatric blunt head injury (PBHI) cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate factors influencing parental anxiety in children with head injury in the emergency department (ED).
  • To analyze the impact of sociodemographic and clinical variables on parental anxiety and persuasion scores.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational study of 341 pediatric patients with PBHI.
  • Parents completed a 10-item questionnaire at presentation and discharge.
  • Anxiety and persuasion scores were calculated and analyzed against sociodemographic and clinical data.

Main Results:

  • Mothers' and fathers' initial anxiety scores were similar, but mothers showed a smaller decrease in anxiety than fathers.
  • Parental education level inversely correlated with initial anxiety and persuasion scores.
  • Lower education levels were associated with a greater decrease in anxiety and persuasion scores.
  • Neurosurgical consultation significantly impacted the magnitude of anxiety score decrease, while parental age negatively affected score changes.

Conclusions:

  • Neurosurgical consultation significantly impacts parental anxiety reduction in pediatric head injury cases.
  • Radiological investigations alone did not significantly affect parental anxiety reduction.
  • Emergency physicians should focus on effective communication strategies to manage parental anxiety and potentially reduce unnecessary investigations in PBHI.
Abstract

Keywords:
Trauma, headimaging, CT/MRIpaediatrics, paediatric emergency medicinetreatmentx-ray

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