Work

Interventions Aimed at Reducing Non-Urgent Presentations and Frequent Attendance in Paediatric Emergency Departments: A Rapid Systematic Review

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: Background: Overcrowding in emergency services (ESs) is an escalating issue in many countries worldwide, and it is also evident in the paediatric context. Specifically, in paediatric emergency departments (PEDs) in Europe, there has been a noticeable upward trend in demand for care over the past decade, peaking at 9.1 million visits in 2020. Objectives: To identify interventions aimed at reducing non-urgent presentations (NUPs) and attendance rate PEDs. Methods: A systematic review of the last five years was conducted using various databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results: A total of 15 articles were included in the final review, detailing five types of interventions: (1) telemedicine-based interventions, (2) the continuity of care interventions, (3) health literacy-based interventions, (4) interventions focused on establishing a point of access prior to emergency care, and (5) multidisciplinary interventions. Conclusions: The results of this review suggest the implementation of telemedicine-based interventions, the promotion of continuity of care, and the enhancement of parental health literacy as strategies to address the issue of overcrowding in PEDs.

Source: Emergency Care and Medicine

DOI: 10.3390/ecm2010007

Authors: Zeina Barca-Ruso, Néstor Montoro-Pérez, Raimunda Montejano-Lozoya, Ángela Sanjuán-Quiles, Juana Perpiñá-Galvañ

Institutions: University of Alicante, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe

Language: English

Topic: Emergency and Acute Care Studies

Subfield: Emergency Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207