The implementation of a gastroenteritis education program ★★★

PurposeThe objective of this study is to determine if intensive gastroenteritis education results in greater caregiver knowledge and a reduction in future emergency department (ED) visits.MethodsThis was a concurrent control, prospective, single-blind trial. One hundred five children aged 3 to 48 months were assigned to receive an ED-based educational intervention and a home nursing education visit or neither. In the ED and 1 and 6 months postvisit, caregivers completed a 38-item Caregiver Gastroenteritis Knowledge Questionnaire.ResultsOne month postintervention, the scores in the intervention group had risen compared with controls (3.3 vs 0.9, P = .11). At 6 months, the difference was negligible. At 1-year follow-up, 37% of children in both groups had an ED any-cause visit; gastroenteritis visits occurred in 27% and 13%.ConclusionAn intensive ED and home gastroenteritis education program did not result in a long-term increase in disease-specific caregiver knowledge or a reduction in future ED visits.