Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-1999
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To obtain preliminary estimates of the acceptance rate and the frequency of adverse outcomes, and to identify issues related to acceptance, associated with management of asymptomatic pediatric coin ingestion by home observation, in preparation for a large-scale prospective study.
METHODS: Scripted telephone follow-up of callers who had reported asymptomatic pediatric coin ingestions to one of five poison control centers six to 36 months previously, which had been managed by home observation.
RESULTS: Of the 67 callers enrolled, 41 (67%) reported contacting a physician regarding the coin ingestion, despite home observation instruction by poison control center personnel. Those who did not recall being instructed in home observation were more likely to have contacted a physician than those who did. Nearly all, however, were satisfied with the advice they had been given. One child developed subsequent symptoms; as per the instructions that had been given by poison control center personnel, his parent sought physician evaluation, revealing an esophageal coin, which was removed uneventfully. No other child developed complications.
CONCLUSIONS: Although all of the 67 children managed by home observation did well, most of their caretakers had not accepted this management strategy. Acceptance, while unrelated to satisfaction, may be related to comprehension of the instructions caregivers are given. A prospective study of home observation for asymptomatic pediatric coin ingestion would be safe and would allow further examination of factors affecting acceptance.
Journal Title
Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Volume
6
Issue
3
First Page
213
Last Page
217
MeSH Keywords
Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Consumer Behavior; Esophagus; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Foreign Bodies; Home Nursing; Humans; Infant; Male; New York; Numismatics; Observation; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Poison Control Centers; Time Factors
Keywords
Swallowed Objects
Recommended Citation
Conners, G. P., Cobaugh, D. J., Feinberg, R., Lucanie, R., Caraccio, T., Stork, C. M. Home observation for asymptomatic coin ingestion: acceptance and outcomes. The New York State Poison Control Center Coin Ingestion Study Group. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 6, 213-217 (1999).
