Factors associated with frequent users in hospital paediatric emergency departments: A single centre study in Spain

Abstract

Background: Over the last decade, the demand for hospital paediatric emergency departments (PEDs) has been on the rise. Studies have been carried out in adults, but in paediatrics, and in Spain, they are few and far between. In order to develop interventions to alleviate this problem, it is necessary to understand the factors that predispose people to use these services. Objective: The main objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with frequent users of PEDs in Spain. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted between September 2021 and December 2022 in the PED of a referral hospital in Spain. Results: There were 530 participants, 12.07% of whom were frequent users. There was an indirect association between frequent use and having a secondary level of education (OR = 0.282, p = 0.002). The factors which were directly associated included: perceived urgency (OR = 10.209, p = 0.002) and the perception that PEDs provide better care than primary care (PC) (OR = 2.664, p = 0.044). Conclusions: The percentage of frequent users is comparable with international levels. As a strategy to reduce the frequency of visits, health interventions are needed to ensure that parents know how to correctly interpret their children’s symptoms and are well informed about the recommended flow of care.