Dr. Adams
04-26-2007, 01:25 PM
Parents' psychological responses to asthma attacks are among the strongest motivators of bringing their child to accident and emergency (A&E) services.
In contrast, characteristics of their home environment, such as dampness, overcrowding, or living with a smoker, have little effect on use of emergency departments.
Children with asthma often use A&E services. The authors found that patients who had attended an outpatient clinic with a family doctor during the previous year were 13 times more likely to visit A&E.
Parents who reported feeling alone or experiencing panic or fear when their child's asthma got worse, or who believed they would get quicker service in an A&E, were 2- to 3-fold more likely to bring their child to the emergency department.
To reduce A&E use for asthma in children, health service planners should take a broader approach, considering what is the most appropriate setting for treating asthma attacks for children of different levels of attack severity, ensuring that services are accessible and address parents' concerns, and that the different parts of the health service communicate appropriate care pathways effectively and consistently to parents."
Thorax 2007.
In contrast, characteristics of their home environment, such as dampness, overcrowding, or living with a smoker, have little effect on use of emergency departments.
Children with asthma often use A&E services. The authors found that patients who had attended an outpatient clinic with a family doctor during the previous year were 13 times more likely to visit A&E.
Parents who reported feeling alone or experiencing panic or fear when their child's asthma got worse, or who believed they would get quicker service in an A&E, were 2- to 3-fold more likely to bring their child to the emergency department.
To reduce A&E use for asthma in children, health service planners should take a broader approach, considering what is the most appropriate setting for treating asthma attacks for children of different levels of attack severity, ensuring that services are accessible and address parents' concerns, and that the different parts of the health service communicate appropriate care pathways effectively and consistently to parents."
Thorax 2007.