[Paediatricians involvement in paediatric emergency care. A study in hospitals and paediatricians offices in the North of France].

Unlabelled: Paediatrician involvement in paediatric emergency care is often considered insufficient.
Objectives: To assess paediatrician involvement in paediatric emergency care, and how paediatric emergencies were dealt with in emergency department, paediatric emergency department, paediatric department and paediatrician offices.
Methods: Prospective multicentric study, January 29th, 2001, including all the emergency visits of children admitted to an emergency department, paediatric emergency department, paediatric department or in paediatrician offices.
Results: Paediatricians examined an average number of 21 children, 58% were considered as "urgent" (mean: 53% +/- 25% by paediatrician). Thirty five percent of paediatricians were available on call that night. In the 18 hospitals, 705 children were admitted that day, 42% to an emergency department, 40% to a paediatric emergency department, 18% to a paediatric department. The mean age was 6 years +/- 5 years. Trauma represented 40% of all cases and was more frequent in emergency department than in paediatric emergency department or paediatric department (63% versus 33% and 2%, p < 10(-8)). Hospitalisation rate was lower in paediatric emergency department than in emergency department and paediatric department, especially for non-traumatic conditions.
Conclusion: Our findings prove paediatrician involvement in paediatric emergency care, in paediatrician offices and in hospital. This study points out the complementarity and insufficiencies of these different services.