Abstract
A previous study of utilization patterns in the Wyler Children's Hospital Emergency Room established that males consistently visit more often than females. Data collected from 1807 consecutive visits from August 1 thru August 15, 1977 were reviewed by diagnosis and sex to determine if particular disease categories account for this difference. 53.2% of the visits studied were male while the population served was 50.5%. This difference was significant at the p <.003 level. Diagnoses reviewed showed a male predominance for simple lacerations with 67 of 107 visits (p=.016) and acute asthmatic episodes with 58 of 84 visits (p <.003). These were the third and sixth most common diagnoses made respectively. None of the other common diagnostic categories demonstrated a statistically significant difference from the population served. Urinary tract infections which accounted for only 14 visits during the study were strongly weighted toward females with 13 (p=.003). These data confirm the observation that males use the emergency room more than females. During the study period, this difference was attributable to the larger number of males requiring treatment for acute asthmatic episodes and simple lacerations.
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Berkelhamer, J., Munkenbeck, F., Davidson, S. et al. 27 PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY ROOM UTILIZATION BY DIAGNOSIS AND SEX. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 368 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00032
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00032
