Should we fear "flu fear" itself? Effects of H1N1 influenza fear on ED use
Should we fear "flu fear" itself? Effects of H1N1 influenza fear on ED use
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DOI：
10.1016/j.ajem.2010.11.027
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发表时间：
2012-02-01
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Schunk, Jeff E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
McDonnell, William M.;Nelson, Douglas S.;Schunk, Jeff E.
背景资料：最近的H1N1流感疫情表明，患者数量的激增损害了急诊科（ED）提供护理的能力。媒体报道在告知公众健康威胁方面很重要，但媒体引起的焦虑对艾德量的影响尚不清楚。目的：本研究的目的是探讨公众对流感的广泛关注对艾德use.Methods的影响：我们回顾了艾德数据从一个综合卫生系统经营18家医院急诊室。我们比较了艾德在三个为期一周的时间段内的就诊情况：（a）在疾病出现之前公众对流感高度关注的时间段（“恐惧周”），（B）随后的活动性疾病时期（“流感周”），以及（c）广泛关注之前的一周（“控制周”）。恐惧周是通过对全州范围内谷歌电子搜索“猪流感”和媒体关于流感的公告的分析确定的。流感周是从全州范围内的流行病学data.Results：数据进行了审查，从22608访问在研究期间。将恐惧周（n = 7712）和流感周（n = 7687）与对照周（n = 7209）进行比较。恐惧周显示访问量增加了7.0%（95%置信区间，6-8）。儿科就诊增加了19.7%，而成人就诊增加了1%。流感周比对照周增加6.6%（95%置信区间，6-7）。结论：在公众对流感高度关注但疾病流行率较低的时期，急诊科的病人数量大幅增加。这些增加是显著的，与随后实际疾病流行期间经历的增加相当。(C)2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Background: Surges in patient volumes compromise emergency departments' (EDs') ability to deliver care, as shown by the recent H1N1 influenza (flu) epidemic. Media reports are important in informing the public about health threats, but the effects of media-induced anxiety on ED volumes are unclear. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of widespread public concern about flu on ED use.Methods: We reviewed ED data from an integrated health system operating 18 hospital EDs. We compared ED visits during three 1-week periods: (a) a period of heightened public concern regarding flu before the disease was present ("Fear Week"), (b) a subsequent period of active disease ("Flu Week"), and (c) a week before widespread concern ("Control Week"). Fear Week was identified from an analysis of statewide Google electronic searches for "swine flu" and from media announcements about flu. Flu Week was identified from statewide epidemiological data.Results: Data were reviewed from 22 608 visits during the study periods. Fear Week (n = 7712) and Flu Week (n = 7687) were compared to Control Week (n = 7209). Fear Week showed a 7.0% increase in visits (95% confidence interval, 6-8). Pediatric visits increased by 19.7%, whereas adult visits increased by 1%. Flu Week showed an increase over Control Week of 6.6% (95% confidence interval, 6-7). Pediatric visits increased by 10.6%, whereas adult visits increased by 4.8%.Conclusion: At a time of heightened public concern regarding flu but little disease prevalence, EDs experienced substantial increases in patient volumes. These increases were significant and comparable to the increases experienced during the subsequent epidemic of actual disease. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.