Factors Influencing Parent Anxiety Levels in a Pediatric Emergency Department Waiting Area.

Purpose: Bringing a sick child to the emergency department (ED) is inherently stressful. This stress is compounded by the ED waiting area environment, which can be loud and chaotic. The aim of this study was to determine the general stress level of adults accompanying children to a pediatric emergency department (ED). A secondary aim was to determine what factors are associated with these stress levels, with a focus on waiting area factors.