On call paediatricians were not better than advice nurses for after hours medical advice in a general paediatric population
Q In a general paediatrics population, is medical advice from on call paediatricians compared with that from advice nurses associated with (1) fewer parents or guardians seeking unadvised medical care, and (2) fewer parents or guardians obtaining unadvised significant care for their children?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (healthcare providers).
Follow up period:
72 hours.
Setting:
a university general paediatrics faculty practice in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Patients:
1182 parents or guardians who called for after hours telephone advice from the on call paediatrician regarding their children (mean age 3 y, 55% boys). Exclusion criteria: calls not for medical advice, calls for emergency medical conditions, and calls in which the callers were unable to consent (eg, non-English speaking or not …
