title: The experiences of emergency department use by street-involved youth: Perspectives of health care and community service providers.
abstract: Street-involved (SI) youth represent a significant proportion of urban homeless populations. While previous research has identified SI youth as substantial users of emergency department (ED) services and has examined their experiences of ED care, little is known about the experiences and perceptions of the service providers who assist these youth with health care related issues. Using grounded theory, individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with 20 community agency staff serving SI youth, 17 health service providers, two hospital administrators, and two hospital security personnel regarding their experiences in providing or facilitating ED care for SI youth. Results identify differences in expectations between SI youth and hospital staff, along with service issues and gaps, including relational barriers and resource constraints. Implications for practice and policy development are offered.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Social Work , University of Calgary, Central and Northern Alberta Region , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Amanda S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Social Work , University of Calgary, Central and Northern Alberta Region , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kilmer
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Social Work , University of Calgary, Central and Northern Alberta Region , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Avery
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Social Work , University of Calgary, Central and Northern Alberta Region , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: deJong-Berg
authors.affiliation: c Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry , University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: d School of Social Work , MacEwan University , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Faye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Social Work , University of Calgary, Central and Northern Alberta Region , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Social Work , University of Calgary, Central and Northern Alberta Region , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Janki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: e Alberta Human Services, Government of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smyth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Access to health care; adolescence; street-involved youth