Parents take children with minor illnesses to A&E for better “self-care” advice
Published: 25 March 2009
Nearly half (46%) of parents who take their children to A&E with minor illness do so to get better practical advice on how to treat their child's condition at home. The findings are being presented today at the Royal College of Nursing's 2009 International Research Conference today in Cardiff.
Dr Pippa Hemingway, Research Fellow at ScHARR, University of Sheffield, surveyed 272 parents of children aged 15 or younger who attended an A&E department with minor illnesses. The main factors which had led parents to take their children to A&E were:
• 46% needed more advice on how to care for their child's condition
• 14% were concerned at a sudden deterioration in a child's illness
• 9% expected expertise in the A&E department
• 9% felt their own attempts to treat the child had been unsuccessful
• 9% wanted to reduce their own anxiety about the child's illness
Dr Hemingway, also a registered Sick Children's Nurse said:
"Dealing with child illness is a particularly stressful time for any parent. When a child becomes ill, the child's symptoms, the psychological needs of the parents and the need for practical advice can all influence the decision to seek emergency care. Understanding these factors could help in the development of better services and
resources to help parents of children with minor illnesses."
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:
"In order to provide the best care for all patients, it is important to understand why an increasing number of children with minor illnesses are attending A&E. Parents who take children with minor illnesses to A&E often have their own logical reasons for doing so. By understanding these reasons it should be possible to provide a more appropriate solution to meet these needs and and in doing so reduce the pressure on often over-stretched emergency care departments."
The 2009 RCN International Nursing Research Conference is taking place in Cardiff from 24th - 27th March 2009.
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Notes to Editors
"Why do parents attend emergency departments with children presenting with minor llnesses? - A survey" is being presented by Dr Pippa Hemingway, ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. It is co-authored by Ursula Werneke; Roderick MacFaul; Kate Armon; Monica Lakhanpaul; Terence Stephenson. The Royal College of Nursing's 2009 International Nursing Research Conference is taking place in Cardiff from 24th to 27th March 2009. To view details of research papers, concurrents, symposia and workshops, visit the website: http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/researchanddevelopment/rs/research2009
For further information, interviews with relevant case studies or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.