[Nurses with pediatricians in pediatric outpatient clinics:<BR>a survey on family pediatricians' opinions].

UNLABELLED

. Nurses with pediatricians in pediatric outpatient clinics: a survey on family pediatricians' opinions.

INTRODUCTION

Pediatric nurses next to family pediatricians could contribute to several activities, included limiting inappropriate access to the emergency room.

AIM

To describe the perceived benefit of the activities that could be performed by pediatric nurses in the pediatrician's clinic according to the opinion of family pediatricians.

METHODS

Pilot on-line survey with family pediatricians, using list of activities grouped in four areas: "Care of pediatric patients with illnesses and disabilities", "Health education", "Prevention of diseases" and "Coordination and organizational activities". For each activity a judgement of benefit (1= not useful at all; 6= very useful) was reported.

RESULTS

Overall, 178 family pediatricians participated in the survey; 55% of them were female, mean age was 55 years. They rated as very useful both the presence of a pediatric nurse in their clinic (mean 5.37+1.06) and would recommend it to a colleague (5.36+1.05). Health education was perceived as the most important area of activity (4.88+0.97). The more they considered useful the pediatric nurse in their clinic, the higher they rated relevant the activities of the pediatric nurse (r=0.60-0.70). Older and more experienced pediatricians found less useful educational (r=-0.19 p<0.05; r=-0.23 p<0.01) and prevention (r=-0.18 p<0.05; r=-0.24 p<0.01) activities compared to younger and less experienced pediatricians.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatricians consider very helpful a pediatric nurse in their clinic, for clinical, educational and organizational activities.