CONCERNS OF CHILD PATIENTS' PARENTS WHEN APPLYING TO THE HOSPITAL DURING THE PANDEMIC ERA

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the frequency of parents who bring their children to the hospital during the pandemic era to experience anxiety about applying to the hospital and the factors affecting it. Method: A questionnaire was applied to 210 parents who applied to the general pediatric outpatient clinic. The questionnaire consisted of 23 questions about patient information, characteristics of applying to the hospital, and parents' anxiety about coming to the hospital. Data were analyzed with SPSS® 23.0 statistical program. Results: 210 parents participated in the study. It was determined that 45.2% of the parents (n=95) felt anxious when visiting the hospital. The parents' most common reason for anxiety was "at the hospital sharing the same environment with other patients" (76.8%). Parents concerned about applying to the hospital were approximately 2.3 times more likely to delay bringing their child to the hospital and disrupt their child's follow-up or routine control. Conclusions: Most parents are concerned about applying to the hospital, and this brings the risks of disrupted child follow-ups and delayed access of sick children to health services. It can be planned to establish telehealth units to identify families with high anxiety, follow up their children, identify situations requiring face-to-face meetings, and prevent delays.