Caregiver-reported delay in presentation to pediatric emergency departments for fear of contracting COVID-19: a multi-national cross-sectional study
type: Article
item type: journalArticle
is part of: CJEM
authors: Person
  surname: Davis
  given name: A. L.
authors: Person
  surname: Sunderji
  given name: A.
authors: Person
  surname: Marneni
  given name: S. R.
authors: Person
  surname: Seiler
  given name: M.
authors: Person
  surname: Hall
  given name: J. E.
authors: Person
  surname: Cotanda
  given name: C. P.
authors: Person
  surname: Klein
  given name: E. J.
authors: Person
  surname: Brown
  given name: J. C.
authors: Person
  surname: Gelernter
  given name: R.
authors: Person
  surname: Griffiths
  given name: M. A.
authors: Person
  surname: Hoeffe
  given name: J.
authors: Person
  surname: Gualco
  given name: G.
authors: Person
  surname: Mater
  given name: A.
authors: Person
  surname: Manzano
  given name: S.
authors: Person
  surname: Thompson
  given name: G. C.
authors: Person
  surname: Ahmed
  given name: S.
authors: Person
  surname: Ali
  given name: S.
authors: Person
  surname: Goldman
  given name: R. D.
authors: Person
  surname: International
  given name: Covid-Parental Attitude Study Group
subject: *Caregivers
subject: *covid-19
subject: Caregivers
subject: Child
subject: Children
subject: Covid-19
subject: Cross-Sectional Studies
subject: Emergency Service, Hospital
subject: Emergency department
subject: Fear
subject: Humans
subject: Pandemics
subject: Presentation delay
subject: SARS-CoV-2
abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine if caregivers of children presenting to pediatric emergency departments (EDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic are delaying presenting to care for fear of contracting COVID-19. METHODS: This was a pre-planned secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey study of caregivers accompanying their children aged 0-19 years to 16 pediatric EDs in 5 countries from May to June 2020. An anonymous online survey, completed by caregivers via RedCAP, included caregiver and child demographics, presenting complaints, if they delayed presentation and whether symptoms worsened during this interval, as well as caregiver concern about the child or caregiver having COVID-19 at the time of ED visit. RESULTS: Of 1543 caregivers completing the survey, 287 (18.6%) reported a delay in seeking ED care due to concerns of contracting COVID-19 in the hospital. Of those, 124 (43.2%) stated their child's symptoms worsened during the waiting interval. Caregiver relationship to child [mother] (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.27-2.76), presence of chronic illness in child (OR 1.78. 95% CI 1.14-2.79), younger age of caregiver (OR 0.965, 95% CI 0.943-0.986), and caregiver concerns about lost work during the pandemic (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.12) were independently associated with a COVID-19-related delayed presentation in multivariable regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one in five caregivers reported delaying ED presentation for their ill or injured child specifically due to fear of contracting COVID-19 while in hospital, with mothers, younger caregivers, caregivers of children with chronic illness, and those concerned about lost work more likely to report delaying ED presentation.
date: 2021-08-18
pages: 778-786
coverage: 34402036

CJEM
type: Journal
volume: 23
number: 6
identifier: DOI 10.1007/s43678-021-00174-z
identifier: ISSN 1481-8043 (Electronic) 1481-8035 (Print) 1481-8035 (Linking)