33 Use of CHU Ste. Justine online resources prior to visiting the Emergency Department for less-urgent, acute febrile illness
Authors: Lazaris-Brunner Zoe , Doyon-Trottier Evelyne , Boutin Ariane , Cook Ramona Lee , Langlet Marie-France , Kara Linda Mostefa , Thériault Corinne , Singh Naomi , Gaucher Nathalie 
Published: October 2024

Background

Over the past 20 years, visits to paediatric emergency departments (EDs) across Canada have steadily increased, with a higher proportion of presentations for lower acuity symptoms. Many paediatric institutions’ websites now provide information and recommendations for caregivers on common illnesses and reasons for seeing healthcare providers or going to the ED. Increasing the use of internet resources may improve health literacy and hopefully decrease ED use for lower acuity presentations like uncomplicated viral illness.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to assess whether caregivers presenting with children with lower acuity at triage were aware of and using the online resources provided by our paediatric institution to help with at-home management of febrile illnesses and to guide their decision to present to the ED.

Design/Methods

This was a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care university-affiliated paediatric ED in an urban setting. Participants were a convenience sample of caregivers of children 6 months to 17 years old with a fever 72 hours or less and triaged low acuity (Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale levels 3 to 5). Caregivers of children with underlying significant systemic illness were excluded. Consenting participants completed two questionnaires. The first questionnaire included demographic data, information on baseline internet utilisation, use of general online health information and our institutions’ website specifically, and whether use of those resources influenced their decision to present to the ED. After browsing dedicated web materials developed by our institution (“Before going to the emergency room” and “Fever”), questionnaire 2 asked for feedback on the website.

Results

From April to July 2023, 100 caregivers participated in the study (response rates questionnaires 1 and 2: 80% and 70%, respectively) (Table 1). Half (49%) of caregivers researched their child’s symptoms prior to coming to the ED (Table 2). Approximately one third (39%) of respondents were aware that our institution provided online information for caregivers about common symptoms and when to present to the ED. Half (51%) of caregivers who completed questionnaire 2 said they would not have come to the ED if they had read these resources prior (Table 3). Many (66%) respondents reported they would be “likely/very likely” to look up their child’s symptoms on the institutional website before going to the ED in the future.

Conclusion

Half of caregivers presenting to the ED for their child’s lower-acuity febrile illness conducted research on their child’s symptoms prior to visiting the ED and most were influenced in their decision to come to ED by what they found. Most caregivers were not aware that our institution had online resources available. Promotion of the institutional resources available to parents may empower parents to manage common symptoms at home and prevent ED visits for lower-acuity illness.