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Of the group who rode with their children, only 5 percent reported that accompanying their children made the parents feel anxious, compared to 56 percent of the other group who felt anxious about not being with their children. Ninety-four percent of all the parents surveyed said they would choose to travel with their children in future similar circumstances.

Before the study began in 1995, Childrens Hospital had an unwritten policy that parents should not accompany their children during a transport. The Hospital staff decided to discover the parents perspective by allowing parents to ride with their children if the parent requested it. During the study period, the transport team did not actively encourage parents to ride in the ambulance. However, as a result of its study the transport team now routinely asks if a parent wants to accompany the transport.

Dr. Woodward added that the parents presence during the transport conveys comfort to the child and eases the childs transition to a hospital setting. One parent wrote on the survey, "My child was very calm, knowing I was there with him." Another wrote, "She was having difficulty breathing. The only way we were able to settle her down and stabilize her condition was for me to hold her. Children at her age often do not want to be separated from their mom."

The researchers found no adverse incidents related to parental accompaniment during the study. They noted, however, that there might be factors such as space limitations, as in helicopter transports, or other situations in which it is not appropriate to include a parent during a transport.

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Contact: Erin McDermott
Mcdermotte@email.chop.edu
215-590-7429
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
4-Mar-2001