Determinants Of Use Research Articles

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE USE OF E-LEARNING IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the factors influencing the use of e-learning in Public Universities in Kenya.Methodology: A descriptive survey design was used in finding out the factors influencing the use of e-learning in Public universities in Kenya. The Population of this study will be the 19,205 employees (Academic and non-Academic staff) in all public universities. The sample size was 96 employees. A questionnaire was the preferred data collection instrument for this study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.Results: Results revealed perceived usefulness was important in explaining the use of e-learning. This is supported by a p value 0.000 which means that perceived usefulness is a statistically significant predictor of the use of e-learning. Results further revealed that such perceived ease of use is important in determining use of e-learning as demonstrated by a p value of 0.000. Analysis showed that supporting infrastructure is a key determinant in use of e-learning in Kenyan universities and this was supported by a correlation coefficient of 0.398Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The universities should ensure that e-learning saves time compared to face to face learning. They should also be in such a position that ensures that e-Learning saves money compared to face to face learning for the students.

Underlying Beliefs Associated With College Student Consumption of Energy Beverages.

College students are heavy consumers of energy beverages, yet further study is needed to better understand determinants of use. The purpose of this cross-sectional study ( N = 283) was to identify beliefs explaining unsafe consumption practices. A principal components analysis revealed three eigenvalues >1 explaining approximately 55% of the variance (health and appearance, performance and fatigue, and recreation and alcohol). Multiple regression analysis explained 75% of the variance for intent to consume. Standardized beta for attitude and subjective norms was p < .001; perceived behavioral control was p < .05. MANOVA was used to determine the effect of gender on eight dependent variables (Wilks's lambda = 3.78, p < .001). Attitudes and subjective norms influenced the intent to consume energy beverages, particularly in males. Students viewed energy beverages as useful for managing health and appearance and performance and fatigue, and as a way to enhance recreation and alcohol consumption.

Nursing Students’ Experience with Information Literacy Skill

This study examined the searching skills and extent of usage of electronic databases by Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health Nursing students in the University of Health and Allied Science (UHAS). The focus was on forty (40) level 300 students drawn from a universe of two hundred and forty six (246) of the School of Public Health (SPH). The study used quantitative method approach and the survey instruments were questionnaire, interview and observation. The data collected were analyzed and classified into the following themes: usefulness, extent of use, determinants of use of e-databases, searching skills, and main drawbacks of learning information literacy skills (ILS). Although all the respondents strongly agreed that e-databases are indispensable for academic and professional practice, findings revealed that majority of them have low quality of searching skills and that accounts for the sparse use of the e-databases. This positive association is proven by Pearson’s chi square test (0.000). The study also established that students’ attitude, academic loads and methodology of teaching were the challenges hindering the acquisition of ILS of students. As a consequence, the study recommends that Academic librarians should intensify their education on e-databases, the development of research guides and encourages stronger collaboration with faculty members in the teaching of ILS so that student nurses would be more adept in searching for information to enhanced scholarship and professional practice.

Determinants of use of insecticide-treated nets among caregivers of under-five children in Enugu, South East Nigeria

Background: Malaria accounts for 90% of the 1.5–3 million deaths occurring annually in Africa. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have proven to be highly effective in preventing malaria. It can reduce malaria transmission by up to 90% and avert up to 44% of all-cause malaria in children

Performance information use in public administration: an exploratory study of determinants and effects

The public sector performance movement has intensified during the past three decades, increasing formalized planning, control and reporting across all OECD countries. Notwithstanding the extant literature on performance management, empirical evidence on how and why performance information is used in day-to-day practice is still rare. Such research is relevant not only to advance theory but also to inform decision makers in designing the conditions that effectively contribute to performance and accountability improvements. We aim to contribute to a better understanding of the effects and determinants of use by considering the characteristics of performance management systems, the characteristics of users and context features. We selected two central government case studies from Italy, a country that has adopted several reforms on performance management since the early 1990s. In order to gain insights from both supply and demand side, for each ministry we interviewed people responsible for the design and functioning of the performance management system and top managers that are supposed to use performance information when taking decisions. Results show the prevalence of passive rather than purposeful use. Motivations and obstacles to the use of performance information are identified, drawing relevant practical and policy implications.

Demographic determinants of usefulness of e-learning tools among students of public administration

Purpose In higher education, blended learning is already strongly established. The e-courses vary in their structure, assignments, prompt examinations, interaction between students and teachers, etc. Such aspects may influence the students’ perception of usefulness of blended learning. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors which influence that feeling and to look for possible differences in perception by different subgroups of students. Design/methodology/approach Students in the survey evaluated 13 aspects of e-courses in which they were enrolled. From enrolment documents, additional demographic data were collected (gender, high-school grade, study programme, etc.). A multiple linear regression was used with perceived usefulness as the response variable and the 12 other e-course aspects as predictors. Further, the same regression analysis was performed on different subgroups of students based on demographical data. Findings The empirical results showed that the general impression regarding the e-courses, their consistency with the face-to-face teaching and the teachers’ responsiveness had a significant influence on the students’ perception of the usefulness of e-courses. Further analysis based on demographic data revealed several subgroups of students where the perception of usefulness was influenced by different aspects. The teachers’ feedback and supplementing the tutorial play an important role in higher years of study, while the general impression loses its influence. Originality/value The paper is the first to explore the importance of demographic determinants of perceived usefulness of e-learning tools in EAPAA (European Association of Public Administration Accreditation)-accredited undergraduate public administration programmes.

Determinants of use of health facility for childbirth in rural Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia.

BackgroundMaternal mortality remains a major global public health concern despite many international efforts. Facility-based childbirth increases access to appropriate skilled attendance and emergency obstetric care services as the vast majority of obstetric complications occur during delivery. The purpose of the study was to determine the proportion of facility delivery and assess factors influencing utilization of health facility for childbirth.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural districts of Hadiya zone, southern Ethiopia. Participants who delivered within three years of the survey were selected by stratified random sampling. Trained interviewers administered a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. We employed bivariate analysis and logistic regression to identify determinants of facility-based delivery.ResultsData from 751 participants showed that 26.9% of deliveries were attended in health facilities. In bivariate analysis, maternal age, education, husband’s level of education, possession of radio, antenatal care, place of recent ANC attended, planned pregnancy, wealth quintile, parity, birth preparedness and complication readiness, being a model family and distance from the nearest health facility were associated with facility delivery. On multiple logistic regression, age, educational status, antenatal care, distance from the nearest health facility, wealth quintile, being a model family, planned pregnancy and place of recent ANC attended were the determinants of facility-based childbirth.ConclusionEfforts to improve institutional deliveries in the region must strengthen initiatives that promote female education, opportunities for wealth creation, female empowerment and increased uptake of family planning among others. Service related barriers and cultural influences on the use of health facility for childbirth require further evaluation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1151-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

PSY25 - Utilization of Antimicrobial Agents at the Haematology Ward in a Public Hospital

Antimicrobials are among the most utilized drugs on haematological patients in most hospitals. To determine its appropriateness, a drug utilization review was conducted to provide an insight on the pattern of use, determinants of use, quality of use and outcome of use in a public hospital. This is a descriptive study where 200 patient’s data were randomly extracted from the electronic hospital information system based on the defined inclusion criteria. Details of patient signs and symptoms and microbiological culture/sensitivity testing were retrieved by using Medication History Assessment, Pharmacotherapy Review Form, and Bed Head Ticket (BHT). Outcome is measured by examining the concordance to guidelines and DDD where the pattern and factors that influence its use. 152 patient data were evaluated. Their mean age was 46.0 (SD 16.9) years. The most antimicrobial prescribed were antibacterial (n=40) types, antifungal (n=8) and antiviral (n=2). Reason for the low number of cases for antifungal and antiviral agent was because it was been used as an adjunct therapy for fever neutropenic sepsis, stem cell transplants procedure and fungal and viral infection. Generally, the antimicrobial prescribed adhered to the current guideline. Most patients received antimicrobials for <7 days. No significant difference was observed of antimicrobial prescribing in terms of age, gender, race, and diagnosis. DDD for the most prescribed antibacterial:222 (Inj. cefepime), 96.3 (Inj meropenem) and 51.4 (Inj. piperacillin/tazobactam injection). The highest DDD for antifungal and antiviral agents: fluconazole capsule (53.79), acyclovir tablet (8.74) respectively. VEN analysis found the highest use for antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral were injection linezolid, injection caspofungin and acyclovir tablet respectively. Significant association were observed between diagnosis and prescriber category and CNS of antibacterial versus combination antibacterial (p<0.05). This study showed that the choice and dosing of prophylaxis antimicrobial agents in haematological patients is in accordance with their appropriate indications and standard therapy guideline.

Patterns and determinants of use of pharmacological therapies for intermittent claudication in PAD outpatients: results of the IDOMENEO study.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) usually presents with intermittent claudication (IC). The aim of the present study was to assess, in clinical practice, the pattern of use of pharmacological therapies for IC in stable PAD outpatients. A propensity analysis was performed using data from the IDOMENEO study, an observational prospective multicenter cohort study. The association between any pharmacological symptomatic IC therapy with different variables was investigated using generalized linear mixed models with pharmacological therapy as response variable and binomial error. Study population: 213 patients, male sex 147 (69.0%), mean age 70.0±8.6 years. Only 36.6% was under pharmacological treatment for IC, being cilostazol the most used medication (21.6%). Univariate analysis showed a probability of a patient of being assigned to any pharmacological symptomatic IC therapy of 67.0% when Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) <0.6 and 29.8% when ABI>0.6 (P=0.0048), and a propensity to avoid pharmacological treatment for patients with a high number of drugs to treat cardiovascular risk factors (probability of 55.2% for <4 drugs and 19.6% for >4 drugs, P=0.0317). Multivariate analysis confirmed a higher probability of assigning treatment for ABI<0.6 (P=0.0274), and a trend to a lower probability in patients under polypharmacy (>4 drugs: OR=0.13, P=0.0546). In clinical practice, only one third of stable outpatients with IC used symptomatic pharmacological therapy for IC. We found a propensity of clinicians to assign any symptomatic pharmacological IC therapy to patients with lower values of ABI and a propensity to avoid this kind of treatment in patients under polypharmacy.

Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment for Chinese patients with depression: An exploratory study in Taiwan

Mobile mental health has a potential to improve the recognition and management of Chinese patients with depression. Currently, evidence regarding ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for depressive disorder mostly originates from Western studies. Herein, we examined the validity of smartphone-based EMA for depression in Chinese patients and explored the determinants of use. A smartphone application, iHOPE, was used to perform daily EMA of depression, anxiety, sleep and cognitive performance. Outpatients with depressive disorder were recruited to use iHOPE for 8 weeks. Clinical characteristics and smartphone use patterns were assessed at baseline. We enrolled 59 Chinese patients with depression. In 8 weeks, participants interacted with iHOPE for an average of 10.8 (SD=12.3) days; a trend of decreased frequency of use (p=0.03) was observed. Scores of HAM-D at baseline was associated with, of the first 2 weeks, scores of PHQ-9 (p=0.005), EMA of depression (p=0.003) and anxiety (p<0.001), and poorer sleep quality (p=0.023). Among the demographic, clinical and smartphone-use variables examined, only limited internet package for smartphone (<500M per month) predicted higher use of iHOPE (p=0.04). The present study provides initial evidence for the feasibility of smartphone-based EMA in Chinese patients with depression. Level of engagement needs to be improved before determining its clinical usefulness.

Examination of the relationship between technology use of 5–6 year-old children and their social skills and social status

ABSTRACTThe primary objective of this study is to determine the predictive effect of technology use durations of 5–6 year-old children on their social skill levels and social status. In this study, children’s technology usage is restricted to the use of television, portable computers, tablets and smartphones. The sample group of the study consisted of 162 children aged 5 and 6 years old who are actively enrolled in seven kindergartens. The data required for the study were obtained from children, parents and teachers. The ‘Determination of Use of Technology by Children–Parent Form’, the ‘Social Skills Evaluation Scale’, ‘The Picture Sociometry Scale’ and ‘The Personal Information Form’ were used. The results revealed that the use of mobile technologies had no predictive effect on the social skill level, whereas, some mobile devices have predictive effects on the social preference and social impact.

Determinants of use of supervised delivery care under Ghana's fee exemption policy for maternal healthcare: the case of the Central Region.

BackgroundImproving access to supervised and emergency obstetric care resources through fee reduction/exemption maternity care initiatives has been touted as one major strategy to avoiding preventable maternal deaths. Evaluations on the effect of Ghana’s fee exemption policy for maternal healthcare have largely focused on how it has influenced health outcomes and patterns of use of supervised care with little attention to understanding the main factors influencing use. This study therefore sought to explore the main individual and health system factors influencing use of delivery care services under the policy initiative in the Central Region.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using 412 mothers with children aged less than one year in one largely rural and another largely urban districts in the Central Region of Ghana from September to December 2013. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey on the socio-demographic characteristics of mothers, their knowledge and use of care under the fee free policy. Chi-square and Binary Logistic Regression tests were used to evaluate the main determinants of delivery care use under the policy.ResultsOut of the 412 mothers interviewed, 268 (65 %) reported having delivered their most recent birth under the fee exemption policy even though awareness about the policy was almost universal 401 (97.3 %) among respondents. Utilization however differed for the two study districts. Respondents in the Cape Coast Metropolis (largely urban) used delivery service more (75.7 %) than those in the largely rural Assin North Municipal area (54.4 %).Binary logistic regression results identified maternal age, parity, religion, place of residence, awareness and knowledge about the fee exemption policy for maternal healthcare as significantly associated with the likelihood of delivery care use under the policy. The likelihood of using supervised delivery care under the policy was lower for mothers aged 20–29 compared to those in the age bracket of 40–49 (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.069, p = 0.003). For their index (last child), mothers who already had 1, 2 or 3 births were more likely to deliver under the policy than those with five or more births.Mothers living in urban areas were 3.79 times more likely to use delivery services under the policy than those living in rural areas (OR = 3.793, p = 0.000). The likelihood of using delivery services under the policy was higher for mothers who were aware and had full knowledge of the total benefit package of the policy (OR = 13.820, p = 0.022 and OR = 2.985, p = 0.001 for awareness and full knowledge respectively).ConclusionsDelivery service use under the free maternal healthcare policy is relatively low (65 %) when compared with nearly universal awareness (97.3 %) about the policy. Factors influencing delivery service use under the policy operate at both individual and policy implementation levels. Effective interventions to improve delivery service use under the policy should target the underlying individual and health policy implementation factors identified in the study.

Uwarunkowania wykorzystania witryn internetowych operatorów komórkowych w Polsce

The aim of this article is to analyze the determinants of use of mobile operator’s websites providing services for mobile device users from the customer’s point of view. This is the last study of the series of research into the mobile sphere, supplementary in relation to previous analyses of the use of mobile devices, mobile applications and websites offering them. The findings presented in the article focus on the websites of operators offering the possibility to manage the access and services which may be run on mobile devices. The paper presents research objectives and questions, description of methodology and study sample as well as a comparative analysis of the obtained results and relevant discussion. The qualitative research was conducted on a selected sample of university students by means of a standardized scoring method used to evaluate selected characteristics of websites.

Enduring large use of acetaminophen suppositories for fever management in children: a national survey of French parents and healthcare professionals' practices.

The pharmacological specificities of the rectal formulation of acetaminophen led to a debate on its appropriateness for managing fever in children, but few data are available on the formulation's current use and determinants of use. In a national cross-sectional study between 2007 and 2008, healthcare professionals were asked to include five consecutive patients with acute fever. Among the 6255 children (mean age 4.0years ± 2.8 SD) who received acetaminophen given by parents or prescribed/recommended by healthcare professionals, determinants of suppository use were studied by multilevel models. A suppository was given by 27% of parents and prescribed/recommended by 19% of healthcare professionals, by 24 and 16%, respectively, for children 2 to 5years old, and by 13 and 8%, respectively, for those 6 to 12years old. Among children who received suppositories from parents and healthcare professionals, 83 and 84%, respectively, did not vomit. Suppository use was independently associated with several patient- and healthcare professional-level characteristics: young age of children, presence of vomiting, or lack of diarrhea. We report an enduring large use of suppositories in France for the symptomatic management of fever in children, including in non-vomiting and/or older children. The rational for such use should be questioned. • The pharmacological specificities of the rectal formulation of acetaminophen have led to a debate on its appropriateness for managing fever in children. Few data are available on the formulation's current use and determinants of the use. What is New: • In a national cross-sectional study, we observed a large use of suppositories in France for symptomatic management of fever in children. Suppositories were frequently used for the youngest children but also for older and/or non-vomiting children.

The Scope of Use of the WHO Partograph on Maternity Wards in Rwanda [12K

INTRODUCTION: The WHO partograph has been adopted by ministries of health throughout sub-Saharan Africa to monitor labor progress. The purpose of this study is to understand the scope of its use in Rwanda. METHODS: Completion of the WHO partograph was assessed by trained observers in three Rwandan maternity wards: urban tertiary referral hospital, rural health center, and rural district hospital. Data was recorded at multiple points during patients' labor and after delivery to assess degree of partograph completion. Demographic and labor characteristics data were collected. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were performed to assess for associations with partograph completion. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 12.0. An alpha level less than 0.05 denoted statistical significance. RESULTS: Thirty providers consented to be observed. Data was collected on 58 women. Eighty-nine percent of partographs were not complete when patients were completely dilated; 84% were not complete when patients started pushing. Ninety-four percent of partographs were complete within one hour of delivery. Having at least one co-morbidity was associated with a complete partograph by the time the patient was pushing (P=.05). None of the following were associated with partograph completion: day/night shift (P=.22), weekday/weekend shift (P=.58), induction/augmentation medications (P=.64), and parity (P=.53). CONCLUSION: Despite being a validated tool proven to reduce maternal morbidity and neonatal morbidity and mortality, partographs are not routinely completed and thus not routinely used to manage labor in some Rwandan maternity wards. Patient co-morbidities may lead to more frequent use. Additional determinants of use and barriers to completion need to be assessed.

Explaining Disparities in Use of Skilled Birth Attendants in Developing Countries: A Conceptual Framework.

Despite World Health Organization recommendations that all women deliver with a skilled birth attendant (SBA), research continues to demonstrate large disparities in use of SBAs by socioeconomic status (SES). Yet few quantitative studies empirically examine the factors underlying these disparities, due in part to the fact that current models do not provide clear pathways—with measurable mediators—for how distal factors like SES may affect maternal health-seeking behaviors like delivering with SBAs. We propose the Disparities in Skilled Birth Attendance (DiSBA) framework for examining the determinants of use of SBAs. We posit that three proximal factors directly affect use of SBAs: perceived need, perceived accessibility of maternal health services, and perceived quality of care. Distal factors like SES affect use of SBAs indirectly through these proximal factors, and the effects can be measured. We test the assumptions of the DiSBA framework using data from the Ghana Maternal Health Survey. The analytic techniques we use include logistic regression with mediation analysis to examine the intervening effects. We find that our proxies for perceived access, perceived need, and perceived quality of care account for approximately 23% of the difference between women with no education and those with primary school education, and about 55% of the difference between women in the lowest wealth quintile and those in the middle wealth quintiles. This study suggests that proximal factors are worthy of increased attention in terms of measurement, data collection, analysis, programmatic efforts, and policy interventions, as these factors are potentially more amenable to change than the distal factors. The effects of proximal factors are also likely context specific, thus sufficient understanding in different contexts is essential to developing appropriate interventions.

Determinants of Value Addition Initiatives Use by Fish Farmers in Kwara and Kogi States, North Central Nigeria

The paper examines the activities of fish farmers as it relates to their use of value addition initiatives in fish farming and highlights the determinants of use of these initiatives in Kwara and Kogi States, Nigeria. A well-structured interview schedule was used to elicit information from two hundred and twenty respondents selected using a two The findings indicated that the fish farmers fall into the economically active age group with a mean age of 44.1 years, majority (75.5%) were males, married (78.2%) and had one level of formal education or the other (83.1%). The respondents value ad was still very low among the respondents and t significant difference (even at 5 percent level of significance) in the level of use of value addition initiatives among the two constituent States of Kwara and Kogi. Logistic regression model of determinants of value addition initiatives use revealed that characteristics of household that were more likely to use value addition initiatives include the younger fish farmers; with larger household size; higher educational qualification; higher percentage contribution of fish farm income to total income and those with more years of fish farming experience. The study recommends an urgent need to package robust training programmes and advisory services for fish farmers by extension and other stakeholders and amelioration of the highlighted severe constraints in order to enhance their use of value added initiatives thereby making them to be able to tap into all the available potentials that exist in aquaculture sector. Copyright@2015 STAR Journal

Trends in Prevalence and Determinants of Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in the United States: 2007 to 2012.

To estimate the prevalence and determinants of the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older U.S. adults using the 2012 Beers criteria. Retrospective cohort study in a random national sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries from 2007 to 2012. U.S. population aged 65 and older with Parts A, B, and D enrollment in at least 1 month during a calendar year (N = 38,250 individuals; 1,308,116 observations). The 2012 Beers criteria were used to estimate the prevalence of the use of PIMs in each calendar month and over a 12-month period using data on diagnoses or conditions present in the previous 12 months. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for the dependence of multiple monthly observations of a single person when estimating 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and logistic regression was used to identify independent determinants of PIM use. The point prevalence of the use of PIMs decreased from 37.6% (95% CI = 37.0-38.1) in 2007 to 34.2% (95% CI = 33.6-34.7) in 2012, with a statistically significant 2% (95% CI = 1-3%) decline per year assuming a linear trend. The 1-year period prevalence declined from 64.9% in 2007 to 56.6% in 2012. The strongest predictor of PIM use was the number of drugs dispensed. Individuals aged 70 and older and those seen by a geriatrician were less likely to receive a PIM. From 2007 to 2012, the prevalence of PIM use in older U.S. adults decreased according to the 2012 Beers criteria, although it remains high, still affecting one-third each month and more than half over 12 months. The number of dispensed prescriptions could be used to target future interventions.

Age at adiposity rebound: determinants and association with nutritional status and the metabolic syndrome at adulthood.

Early-life growth characteristics and in particular age at adiposity rebound (AR), have been shown to impact nutritional status later in life but studies investigating the association with long-term health remain scarce. Our aims were to identify determinants of age at AR and its relationship with nutritional status and cardiometabolic risk factors at adulthood. A total of 1465 subjects aged 20-60 years participated in this retrospective cohort study. Height, weight, waist circumference, blood glucose, lipids and blood pressure were measured at adulthood. Childhood weight, height, gestational age, birth weight and early nutrition were collected retrospectively from health booklets and age at AR was assessed. Participants self-reported parental silhouettes. Associations were assessed using multiple linear and logistic regression. An earlier AR was associated with higher body mass index and waist circumference at adulthood in both men and women (P<0.0001). In addition, women with an earlier occurrence of AR had higher triglyceride (P=0.001), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P=0.001), systolic (P=0.02) and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.04) at adulthood. Both men (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.82 (0.70-0.95)) and women (OR (95% CI): 0.84 (0.73-0.96) with an AR occurring earlier were more likely to develop a metabolic syndrome. Larger parental silhouette was associated with an earlier AR. This long-term study showed that age at AR was associated with nutritional status and metabolic syndrome at adulthood. These results highlight the importance of monitoring childhood growth so as to help identify children at risk of developing an adverse cardiometabolic profile in adulthood. AR determinants for use in overweight surveillance were identified.

Why do parents use the emergency department for minor injury and illness? A cross-sectional questionnaire.

ObjectiveTo understand decision-making when bringing a child to an emergency department.DesignA cross-sectional survey of parents attending with children allocated a minor triage category.SettingEmergency department in South West England, serving 450,000 people per annum.ParticipantsAll English-speaking parents/caregivers whose children attended the emergency department and were triaged as minor injury/illness.Main outcome measuresParental and child characteristics, injury/illness characteristics, advice seeking behaviour, views regarding emergency department service improvement, GP access and determinants of emergency department use.ResultsIn sum, 373 responses were analysed. The majority of attendances were for minor injury, although illness was more common in <4 year olds. Most presentations were within 4 h of injury/illness and parents typically sought advice before attending. Younger parents reported feeling more stressed. Parents of younger children perceived the injury/illness to be more serious, reporting greater levels of worry, stress, helplessness and upset and less confidence. Parents educated to a higher level were more likely to administer first-aid/medication. Around 40% did not seek advice prior to attending and typically these were parents aged <24 and parents of <1 year olds. The main determinants of use were: advised by someone other than a GP; perceived urgency; perceived appropriateness. The need for reassurance also featured.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that it is difficult for parents to determine whether their child’s symptoms reflect minor conditions. Efforts should focus on building parental confidence and self-help and be directed at parents of younger children and younger parents. This is in addition to appropriate minor injury/illness assessment and treatment services.