Assessing Caregivers' Pre-visit Information-Seeking Behaviors for Pediatric Emergency Care: A Pilot Questionnaire Study in a University Hospital

Background and objectives Multiple informational resources - including online tools and the pediatric telephone consultation service (#8000) - are available in Japan to assist caregivers in determining whether to seek emergency care for their child. However, the utilization of these resources prior to pediatric emergency department (ED) visits remains unclear. This study aimed to examine whether caregivers sought information before visiting a pediatric ED and to identify which resources they utilized. Materials and methods We conducted a descriptive, questionnaire-based study involving caregivers who brought their child to the ED at a tertiary care center in a regional city in Japan between May and August 2022. Both paper-based and online questionnaires were used, consisting of 17 items that addressed patient demographics, pre-visit information searches, search methods, and clinical outcomes. Results Of the 42 distributed questionnaires, 36 valid responses were analyzed, resulting in a response rate of 85.7%. Among the 36 respondents, 21 caregivers reported seeking information prior to visiting the ED. The internet was the most frequently utilized resource, with 15 respondents indicating its use. Awareness of the #8000 hotline was high; however, only a minority utilized it, with just two respondents indicating usage. The perceived appropriateness of the visit did not differ significantly between caregivers who sought information and those who did not, with a p-value of 0.8. Conclusions These preliminary findings indicate that, although caregivers are aware of public information resources, many primarily rely on online searches before seeking emergency care. Further research, involving larger studies across more diverse settings, is necessary to elucidate how caregivers utilize these resources and how they can be better supported in their decision-making processes.