Pediatric primary care and emergency: Patient's parent's needs and expectations [L'urgenza pediatrica: I bisogni e le aspettative dell'utente]

Emergency department utilization has been increasing worldwide in recent years: in the city of Padova the access rate to paediatric emergency department has been 240/1000, 0-14 year population. A "consumer" survey was carried out by 9 practising paediatrician among 385 families, in collaboration with the University of Padova Pediatric Department. The aim was to evaluate parents' needs and expectations with regard to emergency department utilization patterns, also in order to plan possible educational and organizative interventions inside and outside the hospital. In about 2/3 of cases children were brought to emergency department without previous contact with the paediatric practitioner, mainly due to problems occurring in out-of-office hours and days together with perceived urgency. Improved access and continuity of care, to be achieved mainly through extension of paediatric group practices, appears as the most effective strategy to reduce the inapproriate use of the emergency department.