Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Background. Nonurgent visits in pediatric Emergency Departments are a growing burden. In order to find predictors for those nonurgent visits, we performed a retrospective analysis of unscheduled visits at the Pediatric Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Bonn, Germany, in the year 201...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Pediatrics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7580546 |
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| _version_ | 1832558297301909504 |
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| author | Laura Guckert Heiko Reutter Nadia Saleh Rainer Ganschow Andreas Müller Fabian Ebach |
| author_facet | Laura Guckert Heiko Reutter Nadia Saleh Rainer Ganschow Andreas Müller Fabian Ebach |
| author_sort | Laura Guckert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Nonurgent visits in pediatric Emergency Departments are a growing burden. In order to find predictors for those nonurgent visits, we performed a retrospective analysis of unscheduled visits at the Pediatric Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Bonn, Germany, in the year 2017. Additionally, we compared these findings to unscheduled visits during the first peak of the worldwide pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019, to see if there would be an effect on nonurgent pediatric Emergency Department attendances. Methods. For our retrospective cohort study, we analyzed more than 5.000 visits at the pediatric Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Bonn, Germany, before and during the first peak of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019, particularly with regard to their urgency. Data included gender, age, zip code, urgency, and preexisting conditions. Results. Our study shows that more than half of unscheduled pediatric Emergency Department visits (69%) at the University Hospital in Bonn are for nonurgent reasons, with short living distance being a factor to present children to a pediatric Emergency Department, even with minor complaints. During the first peak of the pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019, nonurgent visits decreased significantly, potentially due to hesitation to attend a pediatric Emergency Department with minor issues, fearing an infection with SARS-CoV-2 at the hospital. Conclusion. Many people use pediatric Emergency Departments for nonemergency complaints. In order to address the reasons for nonurgent visits to pediatric Emergency Departments and to prevent parents from doing so, further studies and targeted education concepts for parents are needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1bfff52101d6413b834617fae3984a85 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9759 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-1bfff52101d6413b834617fae3984a852025-02-03T01:32:37ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97592022-01-01202210.1155/2022/7580546Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 PandemicLaura Guckert0Heiko Reutter1Nadia Saleh2Rainer Ganschow3Andreas Müller4Fabian Ebach5Dept. of PediatricsDiv. of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care MedicineDept. of PediatricsDept. of PediatricsDept. of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive CareDept. of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive CareBackground. Nonurgent visits in pediatric Emergency Departments are a growing burden. In order to find predictors for those nonurgent visits, we performed a retrospective analysis of unscheduled visits at the Pediatric Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Bonn, Germany, in the year 2017. Additionally, we compared these findings to unscheduled visits during the first peak of the worldwide pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019, to see if there would be an effect on nonurgent pediatric Emergency Department attendances. Methods. For our retrospective cohort study, we analyzed more than 5.000 visits at the pediatric Emergency Department of the University Hospital of Bonn, Germany, before and during the first peak of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019, particularly with regard to their urgency. Data included gender, age, zip code, urgency, and preexisting conditions. Results. Our study shows that more than half of unscheduled pediatric Emergency Department visits (69%) at the University Hospital in Bonn are for nonurgent reasons, with short living distance being a factor to present children to a pediatric Emergency Department, even with minor complaints. During the first peak of the pandemic of the Coronavirus disease 2019, nonurgent visits decreased significantly, potentially due to hesitation to attend a pediatric Emergency Department with minor issues, fearing an infection with SARS-CoV-2 at the hospital. Conclusion. Many people use pediatric Emergency Departments for nonemergency complaints. In order to address the reasons for nonurgent visits to pediatric Emergency Departments and to prevent parents from doing so, further studies and targeted education concepts for parents are needed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7580546 |
| spellingShingle | Laura Guckert Heiko Reutter Nadia Saleh Rainer Ganschow Andreas Müller Fabian Ebach Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic International Journal of Pediatrics |
| title | Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Nonurgent Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department before and during the First Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | nonurgent visits to the pediatric emergency department before and during the first peak of the covid 19 pandemic |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7580546 |
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