title: Presentation to either the pediatric emergency department or primary care clinic for acute illness: the caregivers' perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to understand and compare caregivers' perceptions of and attitudes toward care received in a primary care clinic (PCC) versus that received in the pediatric emergency department (PED) as well as the reasons for selecting either location to receive care for their child.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were administered to caregivers of children who receive their primary care at the same location who presented for a nonurgent sick visit to either the PCC or PED during regular PCC hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fifty-one caregivers in the PCC and 83 in the PED completed the survey. Compared with caregivers who brought their child to the PED, those who presented to the PCC were more likely to report that the child had been sick for more than 2 days (P < 0.001), indicate that the child could wait more than 3 hours to be seen (P < 0.001), have called the PCC for advice (odds ratio [OR], 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9-9.2), have spoken with a nurse (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 2.0-6.7), be satisfied with their phone call to the PCC (OR, 12.2; 95% CI, 6.4-23.1), and report that they could easily get in touch with the PCC (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.8-7.3). Most caregivers who went to the PCC felt that it was more convenient (98.6%) and they would be seen more quickly (95.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although all children had the same medical home, caregivers who presented to the PCC were more likely to have called the clinic, spoken with a nurse, and reported greater satisfaction with the PCC than those who brought their child to the PED.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Denver, CO; †Department of Internal Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, MA; and ‡Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nokoff
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Linakis
authors.forename: Siraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amanullah
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010372:Pediatrics; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires