Almadani Housam, Almailabi Malik, Henaidi Marwan, Almelibari Mohammed, Almhgadi Yazeed, Alsulaimani Hawazeni, Almanabri Moayed
Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Department of Emergency Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
J Med Life. 2024 Dec;17(12):1054-1060. doi: 10.25122/jml-2024-0291.
Efforts to improve healthcare services have been ongoing, particularly in equipping emergency departments (EDs) to handle pediatric cases. However, many EDs continue to lack specialized equipment and adequately trained personnel, exposing children to significant health risks. This study aimed to identify self-reported barriers among emergency physicians in managing pediatric patients and assess their confidence levels in pediatric care. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March 2023 and January 2024 among emergency physicians dealing with pediatric emergencies practicing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire, which included demographic details, perceived barriers in pediatric care, availability of pediatric services, recommendations for improvement, and a 4-item confidence assessment. Out of 214 ED physicians, 197 responded (response rate: 92.1%), with junior residents comprising 40.1% of participants. The most reported barriers were determining accurate medication doses (20.8%) and managing interactions with parents (19.8%). Confidence in pediatric care was reported by 46.2% of participants and was significantly higher among consultants (AOR = 2.522; 95% CI, 1.187-5.358; = 0.016) and those who encountered pediatric patients regularly during their shifts (AOR = 3.113; 95% CI, 1.396-6.946; = 0.006). Conversely, lower confidence was observed among physicians who recommended workshops and mandatory training courses for improving pediatric care quality (AOR = 0.475; 95% CI, 0.228-0.988; = 0.046). The findings highlight a lack of confidence among ED physicians in managing pediatric patients, with confidence levels varying based on the age of patients and frequency of pediatric exposure. The most common challenges were accurate medication dosing, interactions with parents, and addressing a diverse range of pediatric diseases. Consultants and regular exposure to pediatric cases were associated with increased confidence, while a perceived need for workshops and mandatory courses predicted decreased confidence.
改善医疗服务的努力一直在进行，特别是在为急诊科配备处理儿科病例的能力方面。然而，许多急诊科仍然缺乏专业设备和训练有素的人员，使儿童面临重大健康风险。本研究旨在确定急诊医生在管理儿科患者时自我报告的障碍，并评估他们在儿科护理方面的信心水平。2023年3月至2024年1月期间，对在沙特阿拉伯王国执业的处理儿科急诊的急诊医生进行了一项横断面调查。数据通过在线自填问卷收集，问卷包括人口统计学细节、儿科护理中感知到的障碍、儿科服务的可用性、改进建议以及一项包含4个条目的信心评估。在214名急诊科医生中，197人做出了回应（回应率：92.1%），其中初级住院医生占参与者的40.1%。报告最多的障碍是确定准确的药物剂量（20.8%）和处理与家长的互动（19.8%）。46.2%的参与者报告了对儿科护理的信心，顾问（优势比=2.522；95%置信区间，1.187 - 5.358；P = 0.016）以及那些在轮班期间经常接触儿科患者的医生（优势比=3.113；95%置信区间，1.396 - 6.946；P = 0.006）的信心显著更高。相反，那些建议举办研讨会和强制培训课程以提高儿科护理质量的医生信心较低（优势比=0.475；95%置信区间，0.228 - 0.988；P = 0.046）。研究结果凸显了急诊科医生在管理儿科患者方面缺乏信心，信心水平因患者年龄和儿科接触频率而异。最常见的挑战是准确的药物剂量、与家长的互动以及应对各种儿科疾病。顾问和经常接触儿科病例与信心增加相关，而认为需要举办研讨会和强制课程则预示着信心降低。
