title: A Program of Nurse Management for Unscheduled Consultations of Children With Acute Minor Illnesses in Primary Care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention to patients with acute minor illnesses represents a major burden for primary care. Although programs of nurse care for children with acute minor illnesses in primary care started a long time ago, there is limited information about the results of these programs in current practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a program of nurse management for unscheduled consultations of children with acute minor illnesses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study of children seeking unscheduled consultations for 16 acute minor illnesses in 284 primary care practices during a 2-year period. The program of nurse management used predefined management algorithms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 467,160 consultations performed, case resolution was achieved in 65.4%. The remaining 34.6% of cases were not solved by the primary healthcare nurse due to the existence of signs of alarm and were referred to a pediatrician. Return to consultation during a 7-day period for the same reason as the original consultation was only 2.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A program that uses management algorithms is effective for nurse care management of children with acute minor illnesses in primary care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of programs of nurse management for unscheduled consultations for children with acute minor illnesses is feasible and effective.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fabrellas
authors.affiliation: Nurse Coordinator, Institut Català de la Salut, Associate Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Eulàlia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Juvé
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solà
authors.affiliation: Computer Scientist, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aurín
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics care nurse, Institut Català de la Salut, Associate Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berlanga
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galimany
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics care nurse, SAP Girona, Institut Català de la Salut, Girona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berenguer
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics care nurse, SAP Alt Penedes, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: M Cèlia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics care nurse, SAP Terres del Ebre, Institut Català de la Salut, Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lacuesta
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics care nurse, SAP Terres del Ebre, Institut Català de la Salut, Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: M Cinta
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Villo
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics care nurse, SAP Delta del Llobregat, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013030:Spain; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Acute minor illness; pediatric care; primary care