A recent study conducted by the University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital reveals that parents' intuition regarding their sick children serves as a significant medical indicator. The study found that clear or strong concerns from parents were effective in identifying 91% of children brought to emergency care who were seriously ill. These findings underscore the necessity of taking parental concerns seriously within the medical evaluation process, especially when a child presents with sudden illness.

Children's doctor Hilla Pöyry emphasized that if a parent is worried about their suddenly ill child, it is crucial for that child to receive a professional medical evaluation. The findings suggest that parents should not be left to make remote assessments regarding their child's condition without guidance or support from healthcare personnel. The study also indicated that conventional symptom questionnaires performed on-site did not enhance the accuracy of parents' initial evaluations.

The research involved 2,375 patients at Oulu's pediatric emergency department, revealing that approximately one in four children was diagnosed with a serious illness that necessitated intensive care, surgery, or prolonged hospitalization. Despite advancements in digital and AI-based assessment tools, the study concludes that these technologies cannot yet replace the critical evaluation provided by healthcare professionals, demonstrating the enduring value of human intuition in medicine.