This study examined the effect a telephone health care information system has on emergency department patients. The research questions address the patient's acuity and the length of time between the onset of symptoms and seeking treatment.A convenience sample of 80 ambulatory emergency department patients treated over a four month period, in one emergency department of a Midwest hospital with a published telephone health care information system. The sample was divided into two groups according to the treatment. The treatment group had accessed the telephone health information system prior to emergency department visit and the control group of patients had not. The procedure for the protection of human subjects were followed.Data was collected by two instruments, a demographic questionnaire completed by the subjects, and a patient acuity scale completed by the treating emergency nurse. Acuity is scored on a 1 through 5 point scale. Subjects selected the best time interval representing the onset of symptoms and treatment. The Whitney-Mann U test was used to test differences in mean ranks. When comparing individuals who used Ask-A-Nurse, there was no significant difference between the two groups and acuity scores. There were no differences between the frequency of time interval ranges in the two groups, however a pattern indicated the subjects sought treatment sooner if the telephone health care information systems was assessed. The ability of the telephone health care information system to refer nonemergency patients to physician's offices or medical clinic and avoid overcrowded emergnecy department appears limited. Implications call for an increased method of screening and providing information to emergency patients who need health care advice. / School of Nursing
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/184838 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Church, Kay L. |
| Contributors | Ball State University. School of Nursing., Ryan, Marilyn E. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | v, 100 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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