229 - Ascertaining the Caregiver Lived Experience of Connecting to Post Emergency Department Visit Care for Headache

Poster Number: 229
Publication Number: 229.1869

Background: Children frequently present to emergency departments (EDs) with headaches, and follow-up is essential for ongoing symptom management and further diagnostics or consultations. The lived experience of obtaining follow-up PCP or specialty neurology care for children with headaches is likely to differ among publicly insured and racially/ethnically minoritized populations. Findings of such lived experience research may aid in the creation of caregiver-derived solutions and increase access to follow-up care but has not yet been conducted in the context of headache management.

Objective: Explore the caregivers’ lived experiences to identify specific barriers and possible solutions to effective PCP or neurology follow-up among underinsured/publicly insured and/or racial/ethnic minoritized children presenting to the ED with headaches.

Design/Methods: This is an interim analysis of semi-structured interviews employing qualitative method-based interviews with caregivers of children that were evaluated for a complaint of headache and discharged home without neuroimaging from 4 large urban pediatric EDs between September 2022 and October 2023. Caregivers who completed a follow-up questionnaire 3 months following the index ED visit and expressed interest were scheduled for a qualitative 1-on-1 interview to share their lived experiences in obtaining follow up for their children follow the ED visit through the lens of insurance type. Content analysis was performed to generate themes.

Results: We interviewed 10 caregivers (8 mothers, 1 female grandparent, and 1 father) with varying sociodemographic characteristics (Table 1). The caregivers openly shared their experience in attempting to obtain follow up care with a PCP and/or neurologist and revealed the 5 emerging themes (Table 2). In attempts to better navigate through the healthcare system, caregivers have provided the following ideas for change to improve post-ED care connection (Table 3).

Conclusion(s): Caregivers shared their lived experiences in connecting to PCP and/or Neurology care after their child’s ED visit for headache. Barriers to follow up care and solutions implemented by parents differed by insurance status. These insights can help direct future research toward caregiver informed intervention development to improved care connection.