Characteristics of paediatric frequent presenters at emergency departments: a whole-of-population study

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dc.contributor.authorProcter, A.M.
dc.contributor.authorGialamas, A.
dc.contributor.authorPilkington, R.M.
dc.contributor.authorMontgomerie, A.
dc.contributor.authorChittleborough, C.R.
dc.contributor.authorSmithers, L.G.
dc.contributor.authorLynch, J.W.
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionFirst published: 20 August 2020
dc.description.abstractAIM:To quantify the frequency of emergency department (ED) presentations and profile the socio-demographic, health and presentation characteristics of paediatric ED frequent presenters. METHODS:A population-based data linkage study of 55 921 children in the South Australian Early Childhood Data Project aged 0-12 years with 100 976 presentations to public hospital EDs in South Australia. For each child, the total number of recurrent ED presentations during a 364-day period post-index presentation was calculated. Frequent presenters were children who experienced ≥4 recurrent ED presentations. We determined the socio-demographic, health and presentation characteristics by number of recurrent presentations. RESULTS:Children with ≥4 recurrent presentations (4.4%) accounted for 15.4% of all paediatric ED presentations and 22.5% of subsequent admissions to hospital during the 12-month study period. Compared to children with no recurrent ED presentation, frequent presenters had higher proportions of socio-economic and health disadvantage at birth. One in two (49.3%) frequent presenters had at least one injury presentation and one (21.3%) in five had at least one presentation related to a chronic condition. CONCLUSIONS:Children with ≥4 presentations do not represent the majority of ED users. Nevertheless, they represent a disproportionate burden accounting for 15% of all paediatric ED presentations in a 12-month period. Frequent presenters were characterised by early socio-economic and health disadvantage, and childhood injury. Strategies targeting social disadvantage and childhood injury may reduce the burden of ED presentations.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAlexandra M Procter, Angela Gialamas, Rhiannon M Pilkington, Alicia Montgomerie, Catherine R Chittleborough, Lisa G Smithers and John W Lynch
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2021; 57(1):64-72
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/jpc.15119
dc.identifier.issn1034-4810
dc.identifier.issn1440-1754
dc.identifier.orcidProcter, A.M. [0000-0001-8612-2188]
dc.identifier.orcidGialamas, A. [0000-0001-7440-8154]
dc.identifier.orcidPilkington, R.M. [0000-0001-6974-8496]
dc.identifier.orcidMontgomerie, A. [0000-0002-9620-3894]
dc.identifier.orcidChittleborough, C.R. [0000-0003-3196-7137]
dc.identifier.orcidSmithers, L.G. [0000-0002-6585-7836]
dc.identifier.orcidLynch, J.W. [0000-0003-2781-7902]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/127449
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherRoyal Australasian College of Physicians
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/570120
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1099422
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1056888
dc.rights© 2020 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicia
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.15119
dc.subjectdata linkage
dc.subjectemergency department
dc.subjectfrequent presenter
dc.subjectpaediatric
dc.titleCharacteristics of paediatric frequent presenters at emergency departments: a whole-of-population study
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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