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Emergency department presentations by A boriginal children: Issues for consideration for appropriate health services
Author(s) -
Duncan Catriona,
Williams Katrina,
Nathanson Dania,
Thomas Susan,
Cottier Carolyn,
O'Meara Matthew,
Zwi Karen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12225
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , referral , presentation (obstetrics) , community health , pediatrics , primary care , medical emergency , family medicine , public health , nursing , radiology
Aim This study describes the presentations made to the Sydney Children's Hospital (SCH) Emergency Department (ED) by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) children with particular reference to children who present frequently or whose presentation was preventable. Methods Data from the SCH ED Information System were extracted for all presentations made by children who identified as Aboriginal, aged between 0–15 years, who presented between 2005–2008. Presentations were coded according to the presenting problem, diagnosis, outcome, and whether the presentations were potentially preventable. Preventable presentations include those presentations considered to be avoidable and those that could have been managed by a local primary care or community service.Results There were 1252 presentations to the SCH ED by 453 Aboriginal children aged 0–15 years. More than 50% of children presented more than once. Seventy‐nine children presented more than five times. Nearly 45% of presentations were coded as potentially preventable.Conclusions A significant proportion of ED presentations were potentially preventable with the use of culturally appropriate and accessible local community and primary health care services and better referral pathways back to these services. Community engagement is required to raise awareness of common presentations and to look at strategies to prevent common problems both occurring and presenting to the ED. This will enhance the health of urban Aboriginal children.