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- A Quasi-Experimental Controlled Educational Intervention for Mothers To Reduce Unnecessary Emergency...
A Quasi-Experimental Controlled Educational Intervention for Mothers To Reduce Unnecessary Emergency Department Admissions in Children with Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
Authors : Ikbal Hümay Arman, Kübra Temel Aslan, Yusuf Arman, Çiğdem Apaydın Kaya
Pages : 1-10
Doi:10.18521/ktd.1353592
View : 138 | Download : 185
Publication Date : 2024-03-14
Article Type : Research
Abstract :Objective:Although children presenting with respiratory tract infection (RTI) symptoms can be managed by in primary care, these symptoms are the most common reasons for children to present to the emergency department(ED). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the education given to mothers by their family physician in reducing the unnecessary admissions of children with RTI symptoms to the ED. Method:A quasi-experimental, single-blinded, controlled educational intervention study was conducted with the mothers of 6 months–6 years old children. Family Medicine Units were randomized as control and intervention group. Sociodemographic features, admissions to ED, fever-related practices were questioned and a questionnaire including propositions on Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour (KAB) about RTI symptoms (KABaRTIS) were applied in both groups before-after the intervention. Intervention group received one-to-one, face-to-face education focusing on home management of acute RTI symptoms and alarm findings, also a booklet was given. No intervention was made to the control group. Result:Study was completed with 178 mothers(Control:118, Intervention:60). The KABaRTIS scores of the mothers increased significantly in both groups(Control:76.9-82.2;p<0.001; Intervention:76.9-83.6;p<0.001), but the delta scores between groups was not significant(p=0.193). The median number of admissions to ED due to RTI symptoms decreased for both groups(p=0.180). However, ED admissions due to severity increased in Control-group and decreased in Intervention-group. Conclusion:This is the first educational intervention conducted in Primary Care in Türkiye to reduce unnecessary emergency department admissions with RTI symptoms in children. Nevertheless, population characteristics, interventional properties, contamination bias or Hawthorne effect may have reduced the expected effect.Keywords : aile hekimliği, belirti ve bulgular, çocuk acil servisi, gereksiz, solunum yolu enfeksiyonları