Family's presence in the pediatric emergency room: opinion of health's professionals

OBJECTIVE: To learn the opinion of health professionals regarding the presence of family during pediatric emergency care. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, performed with 46 health professionals, members of the medical and nursing team of a pediatric emergency service. The data were collected via the application of a questionnaire composed by variables related to the opinion of professionals about the studied subject, in line with the professional category and the vocational training time, as well as invasive procedures during which the presence of family is authorized by the professionals. RESULTS: The medical staff and the professionals with shorter time after graduation (<10 years) were more favorable to the presence of family during emergency procedures. Regarding the complexity of the procedures, the nursing staff proved more favorable to the presence of family during less complex procedures - peripheral venous puncture and fluid sample - whereas the consent of the medical staff was similar, regardless the performed procedure - peripheral venous puncture, fluid sample, intraosseous puncture, tracheal intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: In order to allow the presence of family in the emergency room, it is necessary to sensitize health professionals, especially the nursing staff and the longer-term acting professionals, which are more resistant to allow the family to stay with the child during the emergency care.