title: Why do patients with nonurgent conditions present to the Emergency Department despite the availability of alternative services?
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate why nonurgent patients present to the Emergency Department (ED) despite availability of alternative services; also to assess impact of the UK Choose Well Campaign. A convenience sample of nonurgent ED attenders was surveyed in North Wales, UK. More than half of patients sought advice from friends, family, carer or GP before attending ED. Of the one-third of patients who had not tried an alternative service before presenting to ED, reasons given included patients thinking that they might need a radiograph (46%), believing that GP would be unable to help (29%) or stating that GP was not available (19%). Twenty per cent of patients reported they would have changed their decision about attending ED if they had known more about alternatives. Only 12% were aware of Choose Well. Analysis suggests that though Choose Well effectively provides information on alternatives, it does not translate into more appropriate attendance.
authors.affiliation: aPublic Health Wales, Abergele Hospital, Abergele, Conwy bInstitute of Health, Medical Sciences and Society, Glyndŵr University, Wrexham cBetsi Cadwaladr University Health Board dBangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atenstaedt
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Price-Jones
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult