An evaluation of pediatric emergency cases in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-centre experience

Abstract

AimNurses responsible for the care of children in the emergency department must be aware of the case profile of the pandemic era, better prepare for developing crises, and identify preventive services. The study aims to determine the pediatric emergency cases admitted during the pandemic and compare them to those during the pre-pandemic period. MethodsThe current study was designed as a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive research. All patients aged between 0 and 18 who presented to the pediatric emergency department and had electronic patient records were included in the research population. The data were gathered over two periods: the pre-pandemic period from 2019 to 2020 and the pandemic period from 2020 to 2021. A total of 145,591 patient records were analyzed. ResultsThe number of admissions declined by 51.6% during the pandemic, and a noticeable difference in the reasons for emergency department visits (p = 0.001) was detected. The pandemic saw a decrease in the cases of respiratory, gastrointestinal diseases, and ear, nose, and throat problems. In contrast, there was an increase in the cases of musculoskeletal system diseases, infections, falls, traumas, and neonatal problems. ConclusionThe number of pediatric emergency cases decreased significantly during the pandemic, and compared to the pre-pandemic period, some changes in these cases were observed. Practical implicationsParticular attention should be given to ensuring that mothers of newborn infants receive adequate nursing care. Nurses working in the emergency department should keep their knowledge up-to-date regarding the changing health issues specific to the pandemic period.