Parental participation and communication were the strongest determinants of satisfaction in pediatric emergency care, according to a cross-sectional study published in BMC Health Services Research.
Among 406 parents surveyed at a Turkish tertiary hospital's pediatric emergency department, 64% were satisfied with healthcare staff, 65% with communication, and 62% with information provided. Parents rated "family member participation in care" as their most important need (mean 2.90), followed by communication with family members (mean 2.89). Total scores on the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory–Emergency Department (CCFNI-ED) were significantly higher among parents who reported satisfaction in these domains.
Ahmet Butun, PhD, and Ahmet Yeşil, MD, of Mardin Artuklu University in Turkey, conducted the survey between October and November 2024. All children were classified as non-urgent (green zone) cases.
Families presenting overnight (00:00–08:00) reported greater needs across all categories, possibly indicating heightened stress and communication challenges during off-hours. Although 68% occurred during daytime hours, 54% of parents classified their child’s condition as “semi-urgent” and 18% as “non-urgent.” The mean waiting time was 35 minutes and longer waits correlated with lower satisfaction and unmet needs.
Sociodemographic differences also influenced responses: families living in rural areas and unemployed fathers reported higher need scores, while employed mothers expressed greater needs for support. The cohort included 52% male and 48% female children, with a mean child age of 6 years. Fever (55%), cough (42%), and fatigue (36%) were the most common presenting complaints.
“While the results provide valuable insights into parental expectations, they should be interpreted with caution given the single-centre design and restriction to non-urgent visits,” wrote the researchers. “Future studies with multicentre and comparative designs are warranted to further explore how contextual and cultural factors influence parental needs and satisfaction in emergency settings.”
The authors reported no external funding and no conflicts of interest.
Source: BMC Health Services Research
