Characteristics of youth who leave the emergency department without being seen following sports-related concussion

Jacquelyn J Deichman; Janessa M Graves; Tracy A Klein; Jessica L Mackelprang

doi:10.2217/cnc-2019-0010

Characteristics of youth who leave the emergency department without being seen following sports-related concussion

Concussion. 2019 Dec 6;4(4):CNC68. doi: 10.2217/cnc-2019-0010.

Authors

Jacquelyn J Deichman^{1

2}, Janessa M Graves^{1

2}, Tracy A Klein³, Jessica L Mackelprang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99210, USA.
² Honors College, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
³ College of Nursing, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA.
⁴ School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, 3122, Australia.

Abstract

Aim: Despite the rising incidence of emergency department (ED) visits for sports-related concussion, the frequency and characteristics of youth leaving before being seen are unknown.

Methodology: National estimates of ED visits for sports-related head injuries among youth (10-18 years) were generated for 2006-2017 using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Logistic regression models estimated the odds of leaving without being seen across patient characteristics and time.

Results: From 2006 to 2017, 985,966 (95% CI: 787,296-1,184,637) ED visits were identified for sports-related concussions, of which 5015 (95% CI: 3024-7006) left without being seen.

Conclusion: Youth with sports-related concussion must receive timely care and ED improvements may reduce rates of leaving without being seen.

Keywords: adolescents; disparities; emergency medicine; equity; race; youth.