Non-Adherence in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Emergency department (ED) visits are very common during childhood and the rates of utilization are affected by social determinants. The increasing rates of ED utilization among children is multifactorial and is often affected by non-adherence to recommended treatment preceding a child’s ED visit, during a child’s ED visit, and following a child’s ED visit. Importantly, many of the factors driving non-adherence in the pediatric healthcare setting are structural barriers, including racism and prejudice, economic barriers, language barriers, inadequate access to care, and low health literacy. In this chapter, we will outline the existing research on how non-adherence presents in the pediatric ED and suggest approaches to promoting adherence to care with the goal of optimizing the health and wellbeing of every child.