Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot study
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a significant issue in Italy, impacting resource allocation and patient care. Patients seeking ED care vary widely in terms of demographic characteristics and health perceptions, often presenting with non-urgent issues. Understanding the factors influencing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Emergency Care Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ecj/article/view/13811 |
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| author | Roberta Volpin Giulio Barina Giorgia Borio Luciano Liziero Matteo Simioni Silena Piasentini Chiara Bovo |
| author_facet | Roberta Volpin Giulio Barina Giorgia Borio Luciano Liziero Matteo Simioni Silena Piasentini Chiara Bovo |
| author_sort | Roberta Volpin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a significant issue in Italy, impacting resource allocation and patient care. Patients seeking ED care vary widely in terms of demographic characteristics and health perceptions, often presenting with non-urgent issues. Understanding the factors influencing ED utilization is essential for mitigating congestion. This study aims to assess personal and service-related factors influencing patients’ decisions to seek ED care, focusing on socio-demographic variables and health perceptions. A pilot study was conducted using a validated questionnaire adapted for the ED context. The survey was administered to patients with non-urgent visits (white triage code) across four hospitals during a two-week period in October 2022. Statistical analysis, including chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, identified associations between sociodemographic factors, health perceptions, and ED utilization motivations. A total of 792 questionnaires were analyzed. Findings revealed a “typical patient” characterized by high anxiety, perceived urgency, and overestimation of symptom severity. Significant associations were found between age, education level, chronic conditions, and ED utilization. Socio-demographic characteristics and health perceptions significantly influence ED visits. Improving patient education and awareness of alternative healthcare options may help alleviate ED overcrowding.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b6d40d9214245389a1eb76cf2d3ce0c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2282-2054 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emergency Care Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b6d40d9214245389a1eb76cf2d3ce0c2025-08-20T02:02:48ZengPAGEPress PublicationsEmergency Care Journal2282-20542025-06-0110.4081/ecj.2025.13811Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot studyRoberta Volpin0Giulio Barina1Giorgia Borio2Luciano Liziero3Matteo Simioni4Silena Piasentini5Chiara Bovo6Emergency Department, Ospedali Riuniti di Padova Sud, Monselice, PaduaNursing Degree Program, University of PaduaEmergency Department, Ospedali Riuniti di Padova Sud, Monselice, PaduaNursing Degree Program, University of PaduaNursing Degree Program, University of PaduaEmergency Department, Ospedali Riuniti di Padova Sud, Monselice, PaduaMedical Direction, Ospedali Riuniti di Padova Sud, Monselice, PaduaEmergency department (ED) overcrowding is a significant issue in Italy, impacting resource allocation and patient care. Patients seeking ED care vary widely in terms of demographic characteristics and health perceptions, often presenting with non-urgent issues. Understanding the factors influencing ED utilization is essential for mitigating congestion. This study aims to assess personal and service-related factors influencing patients’ decisions to seek ED care, focusing on socio-demographic variables and health perceptions. A pilot study was conducted using a validated questionnaire adapted for the ED context. The survey was administered to patients with non-urgent visits (white triage code) across four hospitals during a two-week period in October 2022. Statistical analysis, including chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, identified associations between sociodemographic factors, health perceptions, and ED utilization motivations. A total of 792 questionnaires were analyzed. Findings revealed a “typical patient” characterized by high anxiety, perceived urgency, and overestimation of symptom severity. Significant associations were found between age, education level, chronic conditions, and ED utilization. Socio-demographic characteristics and health perceptions significantly influence ED visits. Improving patient education and awareness of alternative healthcare options may help alleviate ED overcrowding. https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ecj/article/view/13811Emergency departmentnon-ugent visitsambulanceinappropriate use |
| spellingShingle | Roberta Volpin Giulio Barina Giorgia Borio Luciano Liziero Matteo Simioni Silena Piasentini Chiara Bovo Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot study Emergency Care Journal Emergency department non-ugent visits ambulance inappropriate use |
| title | Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot study |
| title_full | Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot study |
| title_short | Socio-demographic and health perception factors influencing non-urgent emergency department visits in the Veneto region: a cross-sectional pilot study |
| title_sort | socio demographic and health perception factors influencing non urgent emergency department visits in the veneto region a cross sectional pilot study |
| topic | Emergency department non-ugent visits ambulance inappropriate use |
| url | https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ecj/article/view/13811 |
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