Validation of Parent-Reported Injuries to Their Children.

OBJECTIVE

Injury is a leading cause of emergency department visits, disability, and death in children. This study examined the sensitivity and specificity of parental report of children's specific injuries.

METHODS

A prospective validation study was conducted in 3 urban pediatric emergency departments from August 2010 to July 2011. Parents of injured children completed a survey at 2-weeks following the emergency department visit, and their responses were compared to injury data that were abstracted from medical records.

RESULTS

Parent surveys were completed for 516 injured children. Sensitivities were ≥0.75 for all fractures and ≥0.88 for extremity and skull fractures. Internal organ injuries were generally less accurately reported by parents than fractures. Specificity estimates all exceeded 0.95.

CONCLUSIONS

This telephone-administered and mailed self-administered survey enabled parents to accurately report specific head and extremity injuries.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This survey may be a useful tool for pediatric injury surveillance activities.