Pediatric Emergency Department Admission Reasons and Family Physician Admission Habits of Pediatric Emergency Patients Whose Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is 4-5

Authors : Ülkü Sur Ünal, Saliha Serap Çifçili, Gülser Esen Besli

Pages : 54-59

Doi:10.35514/mtd.2025.128

View : 46 | Download : 38

Publication Date : 2025-08-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: This study aimed to understand why families prefer emergency services over outpatient clinics, assess parental perceptions of illness severity, and evaluate the habits of families not regularly consulting with family physicians or dissatisfied with primary care. It was hypothesized that such families visit emergency departments more often. Material-Methods: Parents of children aged 0–18 with an ESI score of 4–5 presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department between 16:30 and 08:00 were included. Data were collected via a 10-question structured questionnaire on perceptions of illness severity, reasons for ED visits, primary care habits, and demographics. Results: Seventy-seven parents participated. The children’s mean age was 5.7 years (+4.4). Mothers’ mean age was 31.6 (+6.02), fathers’ 36.2 (+6.07). Forty-one percent of mothers (n=32) had high school or higher education. Regarding illness perception, 22 (28.6%) believed their child\\\'s illness was very mild or mild, while 55 (71.4%) thought it was moderate or severe. According to the ESI, 63 children (81.8%) were level 5, and 14 (18.2%) level 4. The most common reasons for ED visits (n=58; 75.4%) were “symptoms recently worsened in the evening” and “parent worry.” Nineteen and a half percent (19.5%) did not routinely seek controls; among those who did, 59.7% used primary care mainly for check-ups. Higher-educated mothers (high school/university) more regularly visited family physicians than lower-educated ones (p<0.05). Conclusion: Parents with higher education tend to regularly visit family physicians and schedule routine checks. Since concern often arises from evening symptom escalation, providing detailed illness information may reduce anxiety and unnecessary ED visits.
Keywords : Pediatrik Acil Tıp, Temel Sağlık Hizmeti, Hasta Başvurusu

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