[Out-of-hospital pediatric emergencies. Perception and assessment by emergency physicians].
BACKGROUND
Out-of-hospital (OOH) pediatric emergencies have a relatively low prevalence. In Germany the vast majority of cases are attended by non-specialized emergency physicians (EPs) for whom these are not routine procedures. This may lead to insecurity and fear. However, it is unknown how EPs perceive and assess pediatric emergencies and how they could be better prepared for them.


METHODS
All active EPs (n=50) of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine at the University Medical Centre of Göttingen were presented with a structured questionnaire in order to evaluate their perception and assessment of OOH pediatric emergencies.


RESULTS
The 43 participating EPs made highly detailed statements on the expected characteristics of OOH pediatric emergencies. Their confidence level grew with the children's age (p<0.03) and with their own experience (p<0.01). The EPs felt particular deficits in the fields of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n=18) and trauma management (n=8). The preferred educational strategies included simulator-based training (n=24) as well as more exposure to pediatric intensive care and pediatric anesthesia (n=12).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite their own limited experience EPs can realistically assess the incidence and severity of pediatric emergencies. They felt the greatest deficits were in the care of infrequent but life-threatening emergencies. Three educational groups can be differentiated: knowledge and skills to be gained with children in hospital, clinical experience from adult care also applicable in children and rare diagnoses and interventions to be trained with manikins or simulators.
Eich
C
C
Zentrum Anaesthesiologie, Rettungs- und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland. ceich@med.uni-goettingen.de
Roessler
M
M
Timmermann
A
A
Heuer
J F
JF
Gentkow
U
U
Albrecht
B
B
Russo
S G
SG
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003625:Data Collection; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy
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