Abstract
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.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: January 05, 2011
Accepted:
November 16,
2010
Received in revised form:
November 3,
2010
Received:
September 9,
2010
Footnotes
☆Prior presentations: abstracts of this study were presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 2010.
☆☆Financial disclosure/conflicts of interest: the authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article and are not aware of any real or apparent conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
