Siddiqui Saima, Ogbeide Danny O
Department of Family & Community Medicine, Alkharj Military Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
Ann Trop Paediatr. 2002 Mar;22(1):101-5. doi: 10.1179/027249302125000256.
This cross-sectional study was carried out in order to define the extent and nature of inappropriate use of the accident and emergency (ER) unit in our community. Data were collected for all children aged < or = 12 years who attended the ER from 1 January to 31 March 1999. A total of 3329 children (2010 boys and 1339 girls) attended the ER during the study period. Respiratory tract infection was the most common presenting complaint (33.5%), followed by trauma (15.3%), bronchial asthma (13.7%) and gastro-intestinal problems (6.6%). Using the triage criteria of Alkharj Military Hospital, most of the boys (57%) and 32.6% of the girls were considered to be simple, primary care cases. The rate of referral to specialist clinics was 9.5% and only 4.7% were actually admitted. Attendance at night (53.5% boys, 59.8% girls) was significantly greater (p < 0.00001) than during the morning (0700-1500) and afternoon shifts (1500-2300 hours). This study shows that a large number of children attend the ER with non-urgent complaints.
本横断面研究旨在确定我们社区中急诊室（ER）使用不当的程度和性质。收集了1999年1月1日至3月31日期间前往急诊室就诊的所有年龄≤12岁儿童的数据。在研究期间，共有3329名儿童（2010名男孩和1339名女孩）前往急诊室就诊。呼吸道感染是最常见的就诊主诉（33.5%），其次是外伤（15.3%）、支气管哮喘（13.7%）和胃肠道问题（6.6%）。根据阿尔卡吉军事医院的分诊标准，大多数男孩（57%）和32.6%的女孩被认为是简单的初级护理病例。转诊至专科门诊的比例为9.5%，实际住院的仅占4.7%。夜间就诊率（男孩53.5%，女孩59.8%）显著高于上午（07:00 - 15:00）和下午班次（15:00 - 23:00）（p < 0.00001）。本研究表明，大量儿童因非紧急主诉前往急诊室就诊。
