Abstract

Aim: Although it is observed that the number and characteristics of the patients who applied to pediatric surgery polyclinic changes periodically, our current knowledge upon this subject is very limited. In this study, it was aimed to analyze the cases that were admitted to our polyclinic by considering the school holiday periods.

Materials and Methods: In this study, patient admission periods were divided into three groups of one week. Group 1: Semester holiday (January 2017). Group 2: The period in which education is active (April 2017). Group 3: Summer holiday period (June 2017). The number, age and sex of the cases, and the reasons for admissions (diseases) in each group were investigated.

Results: A total of 399 cases were evaluated in our study as Group 1 (n=175); Group 2 (n=70) and Group 3 (n=154) (p<0.001). In each group, also, the number of boys was significantly higher than girls (p<0.001). Although all groups had similar age distribution, it was found that most polyclinic admissions occurred within age range of 0-6 years, and the least number of admissions was observed in the age group of 15-18 years (p<0.001). When the reasons for admissions were considered, genitourinary disorders, and demands for circumcision led the way (Group 1: 54 vs 20%; Group 2: 50 vs 1%, and Group 3: 53 vs 23%). Frequency of gastrointestinal and inguinal disorders ranged between 10 and 20 percent.

Conclusion: The number of patients who admitted to our polyclinic during school holiday periods increased significantly because of requests for circumcision. Genitourinary system disorders were the most frequent causes of admission in all periods, especially during active periods of education, and training. We think that planning the number of in-department staff by considering their qualifications, periodic characteristics and reason for admission may be useful from point of quality of health service.