Reasons for emergency department use of low-acuity attender: results from the prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional EPICS-9/PiNo-Bund study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The number of low-acuity emergency department (ED) visits varies across Europe and is often posited as a contributing factor to ED crowding. Many health policy-makers and health professionals assume that these cases are 'avoidable' ED visits or could be referred to other ambulatory healthcare providers.

Objectives

This study examines the care-seeking behaviour and the reasoning behind patients with low-acuity ED attendance according to emergency triage.

Design and setting

In a prospective multicentre cross-sectional survey, patients were invited to participate in an anonymised, paper-based survey in the waiting areas of nine EDs in Germany (2018-2020). The survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, reasons for using the ED, previous cons

SUBMITTER: Slagman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11877155 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature