Appropriateness of pediatric hospitalization in a general hospital in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of inappropriate pediatric admissions using the Pediatric Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (PAEP) and to examine variables associated with inappropriateness of admissions.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Farwania General Hospital, Kuwait, to examine successive admissions for appropriateness of admission as well as several sociodemographic characteristics over a 5-month period (August 2010 to December 2010). A total of 1,022 admissions were included.


RESULTS
Of the 1,022 admissions, 416 (40.7%) were considered inappropriate. Factors associated with a higher rate of inappropriate admission included older age of patients and self-referral.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of inappropriate hospitalization of children was high in Farwania Hospital, Kuwait, probably due to the relatively free health care services, parental preference for hospital care, easy access to hospital services, and insufficient education about the child's condition.
Department of Pediatrics, Farwania Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait. magdyhshafik @ hotmail.com
Magdy H
MH
Shafik
Tarek M M
TM
Seoudi
Tarek S
TS
Raway
Nowair Z
NZ
Al Harbash
Meshal M A
MM
Ahmad
Hanan F
HF
Al Mutairi
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment