Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room

Abstract Objectives We aimed to assess the impact of in‐person and distance school learning models on children's visits to the emergency department (ED) for psychological or social (“psychosocial”) complaints. Methods We analyzed presentations to one emergency department in a mid‐sized Midweste...

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Main Authors: Kit Knier, Aliza Weinman, Aidan Mullan, Meghan Cain, Sara Hevesi, Venkatesh R. Bellamkonda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-04-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13157
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author Kit Knier
Aliza Weinman
Aidan Mullan
Meghan Cain
Sara Hevesi
Venkatesh R. Bellamkonda
author_facet Kit Knier
Aliza Weinman
Aidan Mullan
Meghan Cain
Sara Hevesi
Venkatesh R. Bellamkonda
author_sort Kit Knier
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives We aimed to assess the impact of in‐person and distance school learning models on children's visits to the emergency department (ED) for psychological or social (“psychosocial”) complaints. Methods We analyzed presentations to one emergency department in a mid‐sized Midwestern city. We used the public school system schedule to determine in‐person and distance learning periods by the grade level. We calculated the incidence of visits to the emergency department during academic years 2018–2019, 2019–2020, and 2020–2021, with particular attention to the time after March 13, 2020, which was the pandemic period. We compared the incidence of visits during in‐person versus distance learning school models. Results A total of 7181 visits occurred during the academic years studied, 17.1% due to psychosocial complaints. The incidence of psychosocial visits to the ED was lower during distance learning than during the pandemic in‐person learning period (given per 1000 student years: 20.5 vs. 24.1, p = 0.14). This difference was statistically significant among middle schoolers (23.3 vs. 46.6, p < 0.001). While not statistically significant, the difference among high schoolers was pragmatically relevant (38.2 vs. 49.3, p = 0.086). Conclusions Distance learning was associated with a decrease in the incidence of psychosocial visits to the emergency department relative to in‐person learning. Future investigation is required to verify results and better understand any causative relationships.
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spelling doaj-art-d0e6c461c0034b3f925b801e9ed07d3d2025-08-20T03:19:37ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522024-04-0152n/an/a10.1002/emp2.13157Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency roomKit Knier0Aliza Weinman1Aidan Mullan2Meghan Cain3Sara Hevesi4Venkatesh R. Bellamkonda5Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Minnesota USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Minnesota USADepartment of Biostatistics and Informatics Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Minnesota USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Minnesota USADepartment of Emergency Medicine Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Minnesota USAAbstract Objectives We aimed to assess the impact of in‐person and distance school learning models on children's visits to the emergency department (ED) for psychological or social (“psychosocial”) complaints. Methods We analyzed presentations to one emergency department in a mid‐sized Midwestern city. We used the public school system schedule to determine in‐person and distance learning periods by the grade level. We calculated the incidence of visits to the emergency department during academic years 2018–2019, 2019–2020, and 2020–2021, with particular attention to the time after March 13, 2020, which was the pandemic period. We compared the incidence of visits during in‐person versus distance learning school models. Results A total of 7181 visits occurred during the academic years studied, 17.1% due to psychosocial complaints. The incidence of psychosocial visits to the ED was lower during distance learning than during the pandemic in‐person learning period (given per 1000 student years: 20.5 vs. 24.1, p = 0.14). This difference was statistically significant among middle schoolers (23.3 vs. 46.6, p < 0.001). While not statistically significant, the difference among high schoolers was pragmatically relevant (38.2 vs. 49.3, p = 0.086). Conclusions Distance learning was associated with a decrease in the incidence of psychosocial visits to the emergency department relative to in‐person learning. Future investigation is required to verify results and better understand any causative relationships.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13157child abusedistanceeducationemergenciesemergency servicespediatric emergency medicine
spellingShingle Kit Knier
Aliza Weinman
Aidan Mullan
Meghan Cain
Sara Hevesi
Venkatesh R. Bellamkonda
Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
child abuse
distance
education
emergencies
emergency services
pediatric emergency medicine
title Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room
title_full Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room
title_fullStr Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room
title_full_unstemmed Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room
title_short Association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room
title_sort association between school learning models and psychological and social health visits to the emergency room
topic child abuse
distance
education
emergencies
emergency services
pediatric emergency medicine
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13157
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