Do Major Televised Events Affect Pediatric Emergency Department Attendances or Delay Presentation of Surgical Conditions?

Abstract

We have demonstrated that the live broadcast of soccer games from a major sporting tournament does not significantly decrease emergency department workload. In addition, it does not reduce the number of children who require admission to a pediatric surgical department. This suggests that the staffing organization of a pediatric emergency department cannot be altered on the basis that a major sporting tournament is being televised.