Chinese American Pediatric Parents Emergency Department Utilization and Needs Assessment

Objective: Very little published research has addressed the healthcare needs of Chinese American parents. The objective of this study is to identify Chinese American parents' pediatric emergency department utilization patterns and needs assessment.

Methods: A Chinese language questionnaire was administered to Chinese parents in the ED or community. The questionnaire assessed demographics, access to health care, and utilization/expectation of the ED. Chief complaint and emergency severity index (ESI) scores were recorded.

Results: Three hundred fifteen (54% in the ED) completed the survey. The children's median age was 4.4 years (range: 0 to 17). Fifteen percent of the parents had post high school education. Only 39% of the parents understood the English language, and only 12% speak it. Thus, they (93%) visit a pediatrician who speaks Chinese. The main reasons the parents go or will go to the ED are: referred by pediatrician (49%), pediatrician's office closed (25%), and/or ED close to the house (17%). Of the 169 ED parents, the chief complaints were: fever (23%), pain (14%), laceration (8%), and vomiting (6%). Eighty percent of the parents expect to be in ED < 3 hours; 7% expect to be > 6 hours. Of our most sick patients, with an ESI score of 2 or 3 (124), 28% felt the child was minimally or not sick at all. Government insurance was the preferred method of payment (92%).

Conclusion: Our Chinese American parents have limited-English proficiency, limited education, rely on government insurance almost exclusively, and most utilize the ED appropriately.