How Important is Intravenous Fluid Administration to Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department and to Their Families?

Abstract

Aim: Intravenous fluid administration is a frequently applied form of therapeutic service in emergency departments. This study aimed to determine the effect of intravenous fluid administration on patients’ and their relatives’ preference for emergency departments.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted involving 430 individuals consisting of patients (259) presenting to a university hospital and their relatives (171). Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the authors.Results: Overall, 82.3% of the patients and relatives included in the study stated that the administration of intravenous fluid in emergency departments affected their preference for these units for health services. While the patients are treated with IV fluid in the emergency department, cessation or interruption of the IV fluid was perceived by the patients and relatives as a lack of interest in the patient (40.5%) or as discontinuation of treatment (32.6%).Conclusion: Patients and relatives prefer emergency departments for access to intravenous fluid administration and believe that administering drugs together with intravenous fluid is the most effective therapeutic method. In addition, patients and relatives believe that sufficient attention is not paid to the patient and that the treatment has been discontinued if intravenous fluid administration in the emergency department is stopped.

Keywords

• Emergency department use
• intravenous fluid therapy
• health service
• perception