CJEM
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Multicenter Study
Risk factors for acute appendicitis among adult patients with indeterminate ultrasound.
Abdominal ultrasound is used for diagnosing appendicitis in patients with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Between 45 and 82% of radiology performed ultrasounds are indeterminate for appendicitis and computed tomography is required for diagnostic confirmation. Our study aims to determine predictors to rule out appendicitis when ultrasound is indeterminate. ⋯ For patients suspected of appendicitis and indeterminate ultrasound, the absence of an elevated neutrophil count and secondary signs of inflammation are associated with a low probability of appendicitis.
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Multicenter Study
Low caregiver health literacy is associated with non-urgent pediatric emergency department use.
Caregivers with low health literacy are more likely to overestimate illness severity and have poor adherence with health-promoting behaviors. Our primary objective was to relate caregiver health literacy to the urgency of emergency department (ED) utilization. The secondary objective was to explore the relationship between social and demographic characteristics, health literacy, and urgency of ED use. ⋯ Almost half of caregivers presenting to Canadian pediatric EDs have low health literacy, which may limit their ability to make appropriate healthcare decisions for their children. Low caregiver health literacy is a modifiable factor associated with increased non-urgent ED utilization. Efforts to address this may positively influence ED utilization.