title: Is this problem urgent? Attitudes in a community hospital emergency room.
abstract: As health care resources become increasingly scarce, some suggest that emergency rooms are misused or overused. This study examined whether patients believe their problems are urgent, whether health care providers agree, and what factors influence these decisions. In many cases, using less expensive alternative care is appropriate. Widespread education to change patients' attitudes about the urgency of their medical concerns could reduce inappropriate hospital visits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Birtwhistle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D015588:Observer Variation; D009864:Ontario; D010361:Patients; D010820:Physicians; D013997:Time Factors