Parent's expectations and experience of Children's A&E
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Deciding to bring a child to the accident and emergency department; a study of parents' expectations and experiences
IRAS ID
244800
Contact name
Tony Long
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Salford
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
HSR1819-031, University REC
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
The research question is ‘What are the expectations and experiences of parents who bring their child to the accident and emergency department with non-urgent medical illness?’
Despite the Department of Health’s best efforts to divert non-urgent patients away from accident and emergency (A&E) departments to primary care services, the number of children visiting A&E with non-urgent conditions continues to rise annually, with paediatric attendance representing over 25% of the total A&E workload. Whilst there is much research around the types of conditions with which children present to A&E, there is a paucity of studies exploring psychosocial drivers behind parental decisions to bring their child to the department.
Using purposive sampling over a three month period, parents of children age 0-16 years presenting with ‘non-urgent’ conditions as identified by the Manchester Triage Tool will be approached to take part in the study. Prior to discharge, focused interviews will be used to explore the antecedent decision-making factors leading up to attendance, and a follow-up interview via telephone will take place 48 hours after leaving the department.
Expectations of the visit will be explored to establish how these correspond with actual experience. Conclusions will be drawn around the type of emergency health provision parents want to have available when their child is mild to moderately unwell, and this will help to inform policy issues and decision-making.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0278
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion