Health beliefs and pediatric emergency department after-care adherence

This study's purpose was to apply a multivariate adaptation of the Health B elief Model (HBM) to examine parental adherence to pediatric emergency depa rtment (ED) after-care instructions. Parents/legal guardians (n = 162) of c hildren ages 0-17 years with minor (noncritical) conditions (e.g. abrasion/ contusion, laceration) completed health beliefs and demographics questionna ires while waiting for their child to be seen. Postdischarge, children's me dical records were reviewed for after-care instructions and insurance statu s, and parents were phoned to assess adherence to specific after-care instr uctions. In logistic regressions, health beliefs (barriers, severity, susce ptibility) and child age significantly predicted several postdischarge adhe rence behaviors, including home care procedures and prescription medication purchase. Results are discussed as they relate to the effects of specific health belief variables and the need for further refinement of the HEM in a ccordance with the changing health care system; clinical applications are p roposed.