TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Understanding parent-reported factors that influence children and young people's anxiety and depression presentations to emergency departments: a multi-site study
JO  - Emergency medicine Australasia
A1  - Hiscock, Harriet
A1  - Connolly, Ann-Siobhan
A1  - Dunlop, Katie
A1  - Perera, Prescilla
A1  - O'Loughlin, Rachel
A1  - Brown, Stephanie J.
A1  - Krieser, David M.
A1  - West, Adam
A1  - Chapman, Pauline
A1  - Lawford, Robyn
A1  - Cheek, John A.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE: Victorian ED data show increased presentations for anxiety and depression in children. We aimed to determine parent-reported factors contributing to these presentations. <br><br>METHODS: Qualitative study with parents of children and young people aged 0-17 years who attended one of four EDs across Victoria between October 2017 and September 2018 and received a primary diagnosis of anxiety or depression (excluding self-harm or suicide attempt). Eligible parents completed semi-structured phone interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded and qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis. <br><br>RESULTS: Seventy parents completed interviews. The average age of children and young people was 14 years (standard deviation 2.4) and 63% (n = 44) identified as female. Thirty (43%) children received a primary diagnosis of depression, compared to 40 (57%) children who received a primary diagnosis of anxiety. The majority of respondents were mothers (n = 59; 84%). Key themes as to why families presented to EDs included: listening to trusted professionals, desperation, a feeling of no alternative, respecting their child's need to feel safe and to rule out a potentially serious medical condition. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Parents bring their children to the ED for many reasons. Policy makers, managers and clinicians should work with parents to develop alternative approaches that provide families with community-based support, particularly for younger children and after hours, in order to provide an appropriate source of care for children and young people with anxiety and depression.<br><br>© 2020 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1742-6731
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1742-6723.13486
ID  - ref1
ER  -