RT Journal
A1 Crane JD, Benjamin JT
T1 Pediatric residents' telephone triage experience: Do parents really follow telephone advice?
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2000
FD January 1
VO 154
IS 1
SP 71
OP 74
DO 10-1001/pubs.Pediatr Adolesc Med.-ISSN-1072-4710-154-1-poa9127
UL http://dx.doi.org/10-1001/pubs.Pediatr Adolesc Med.-ISSN-1072-4710-154-1-poa9127
AB Background 
    A previous study showed that calls received by our continuity clinic residents were similar to those in private practice. However, that study did not address the compliance of the parents to the advice given.Objective 
    To determine parents' compliance to after-hours telephone advice given by pediatric residents in a continuity clinic.Design 
    Advice given during initial telephone contact of 493 after-hours telephone calls was categorized into 3 groups: only telephone advice, appointment the next day, or immediate visit to the emergency department (ED). Follow-up telephone calls were made to all families 3 to 7 days after initial contact to determine compliance with the advice given.Setting 
    Pediatric resident continuity clinic of a tertiary hospital in Augusta, Georgia.Patients 
    Children registered in the pediatric resident continuity clinic.Results 
    Overall, 412 (83.6%) of 493 caregivers followed the telephone advice that residents gave them. Of the 270 callers only given telephone advice, 244 (90.4%) followed the advice, 15 (5.6%) went to the ED, and 11 (4.1%) made an appointment for the next day. Of the 112 patients instructed to make an appointment, 82 (73.2%) reported at the scheduled time, 18 (16.1%) improved and did not come to the appointment, and 1 (.9%) reported worsened symptoms and went to the ED. When a visit to the ED was recommended, 86 (93.5%) of 92 complied, 2 (2.2%) improved and did not come, 1 (1.1%) had transportation problems, and 3 (3.3%) did not think an ED visit was warranted.Conclusion 
    If an after-hours line is used by caregivers, they are more likely to follow the recommendations given by pediatric residents in a tertiary center.