Children Who Leave the Emergency Department Without Being Seen: Why Did They Leave and What Would Make Them Stay?

• DOI: 10.20344/amp.9962
• Publication Date: 2018-03-17T08:47:33Z
• Authors: Rodrigo Sousa; Cátia Correia; Rita Valsassina; Sofia Moeda; Teresa Paínho; Paulo Oom
• Keywords: Male; Medicine (General); Patient Dropouts; Portugal; Waiting Lists; Adolescent; R; Infant; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); 03 medical and health sciences; R5-920; 0302 clinical medicine; Case-Control Studies; Child, Preschool; Medicine; Humans; Female; Prospective Studies; Self Report; Child; Emergency Service, Hospital

Introduction: Children who visit emergency departments and leave without being seen represent a multifactorial problem. We aimed to compare the sociodemographic characteristics of children left those did not leave, as well evaluate parental reasoning, subsequent use medical care patient outcome.Material Methods: This was prospective case-control study random sample their matched controls from an department during three-month period. performed phone questionnaire obtain information concerning reasons for leaving, outcomes general feedback.Results: During period, 18 200 patients presented department, whom 92 (0.5%) seen. Fifty-five (59.8%) completed there were 82 controls. The most common leaving ‘excessive waiting time’ (92.7%) ‘problem could wait’ (21.8%). A significantly higher number sought further (78.2% vs 11%) but they experience levels unfavourable outcomes.Discussion: time seems be major factor that drives decision leave. fact parents felt safe in low level adverse highlights low-acuity nature majority leave.Conclusion: Reducing times may logical strategic mean decrease rates However, our data indicate concerns surrounding clinical outcome after partly unwarranted.