Background: Previous studies from the United States revealed that ethnicity/race is independently associated with prolonged emergency department (ED) wait times. The purpose of this study was to assess ethnic differences in ED wait times between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all children aged 0 to 17 years who were admitted to an ED of a tertiary children`s hospital from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015. Multivariable regression was used to examine the effect of age, gender, triage category, arrival time, and ethnicity (Jew, Arab) on wait time. Differences in wait time between ethnicities and the effect of patient-nurse ethnicity concordance were assessed.
Results: During the 5-year study period, 83,609 children were admitted to the ED. Missing data were found in 726 patients. Factors that most influenced wait times were triage category 1 or 2 (p<0.001), and morning or evening arrival time (p<0.001). Ethnicity did not influence wait time (p=0.36). Jews and Arabs had a similar median wait time of 38 minutes (interquartile range (IQR) 22-63) and IQR (21-61). Nurse-patient ethnic concordance or discordance did not influence ED wait times.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that ED wait times were not influenced by ethnicity. This preliminary data provide evidence for equity in emergency care between Jews and Arabs in this hospital.
