The implementation of a gastroenteritis education program.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to determine if intensive gastroenteritis education results in greater caregiver knowledge and a reduction in future emergency department (ED) visits.


METHODS
This was a concurrent control, prospective, single-blind trial. One hundred five children aged 3 to 48 months were assigned to receive an ED-based educational intervention and a home nursing education visit or neither. In the ED and 1 and 6 months postvisit, caregivers completed a 38-item Caregiver Gastroenteritis Knowledge Questionnaire.


RESULTS
One month postintervention, the scores in the intervention group had risen compared with controls (3.3 vs 0.9, P = .11). At 6 months, the difference was negligible. At 1-year follow-up, 37% of children in both groups had an ED any-cause visit; gastroenteritis visits occurred in 27% and 13%.


CONCLUSIONS
An intensive ED and home gastroenteritis education program did not result in a long-term increase in disease-specific caregiver knowledge or a reduction in future ED visits.
Freedman
Stephen B
SB
Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 1X8. stephen.freedman@sickkids.ca
Couto
Maggie
M
Spooner
Laurie
L
Haladyn
J Kimberly
JK
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires