Abstract
Background: Non-urgent visits to Emergency Departments (EDs) are on the increase, and the pressure on EDs is a significant concern globally. The use of EDs by parents of children with non-urgent conditions is an important and unresolved problem, associated with overcrowding, higher costs, lower quality of care and longer waiting times. The majority of research on this topic has taken place in high-income countries with a dearth of work originating in middle and low-income regions. The aim of this study was to explore reasons for parents attending EDs with their child for non-urgent conditions in Turkey.Methodology: This study utilised a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 parents, 15 ED healthcare staff, and 10 GPs in two regions of Turkey between March and May 2017. Data were analysed using principles of grounded theory.
Findings: Parents' perspectives were classified into five core categories: (1) parents' feelings, knowledge, and ability to provide self-care; (2) perceived needs for care; (3) limitations of healthcare services/system and staff; (4) trust with ED services, greater resources, convenience and access; and (5) experiences with ED services and the consequences of ED overcrowding. Healthcare staff perspectives were classified into four core categories: (1) perceptions about healthcare services and staff; (2) perceptions about parents' level of knowledge, awareness and emotional response; (3) parents' preferences for hospital and ED services; and, (4) the adverse impact on ED services. Conclusion: This is the first Turkish-based study on parents' reasons for using EDs for their children with non-urgent conditions. This study may inform healthcare providers and policymakers to better understand this issue and help design interventions to mitigate overcrowding in EDs. Greater effort must be made to reduce unnecessary visits to the ED to meet service user needs, and to increase satisfaction of both parents and healthcare staff.
| Date of Award | Dec 2019 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Mark Linden (Supervisor), Fiona Lynn (Supervisor) & Jennifer McGaughey (Supervisor) |