Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Nov 2024
What they did next: Using follow-up phone calls to investigate health care access patterns of patients who take their own leave.
The purpose of the present study was to use telephone follow-up (TFU) to investigate the actions taken by patients after they took their own leave (TOL) from an ED, with a focus on priority groups who are at risk of experiencing health inequity. These included people experiencing homelessness (EH), people with a low socioeconomic status by index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage (IRSD) and First Nations people. The primary outcome was being seen by a general practitioner (GP) within 2 days of the TOL event. The utility of the TFU was also examined. ⋯ Patients EH were less likely to receive GP care within 2 days of TOL. Improving the access and acceptability of health care in these priority groups is important for achieving health equity.
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Emerg Med Australas · Nov 2024
Skeletal radiograph interpretation discrepancies in the emergency department setting: A retrospective chart review.
To determine the frequency and clinical consequences of discrepancies in skeletal radiograph interpretation between emergency and radiology doctors in an Australian ED. ⋯ The rate of clinically significant discrepancies in the interpretation of skeletal radiographs by emergency medicine doctors is low. This data support using the ED interpretation of radiographs to guide initial management as safe practice.
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Emerg Med Australas · Nov 2024
Low-acuity emergency department presentation characteristics and their association with Medicare-subsidised general practitioner services across New South Wales: A data linkage study.
Identify clinical and demographic characteristics of low-acuity presentations (LAPs) to the ED and analyse correlations between population rates of LAPs to ED and rates of Medicare-subsidised general practitioner (GP) services across statistical areas. ⋯ A relationship between LAPs to ED and Medicare-subsidised GP episodes of care exists for non-metropolitan but not metropolitan areas.
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Emerg Med Australas · Nov 2024
ReviewReview article: Primer for clinical researchers on innovative trial designs for emergency medicine.
Randomised trials have long been recognised as the gold standard research tool for evidence-based medicine. The past decade has seen the emergence of several innovative trial designs that are revolutionising how trials are conducted. ⋯ We describe the main features of each design, outline their pros and cons, and describe when they may or may not be useful. We also provide examples of these innovative designs in contexts that are relevant to emergency medicine.
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The present study analyses Oceania's protest and conflict events (2021-2022) to aid healthcare systems better understand the scope of the issue. ⋯ Australia faced pandemic-related protests; Papua New Guinea grappled with tribal violence, posing healthcare challenges. A comprehensive approach emphasising disaster preparedness, regional cooperation and addressing root causes is crucial to bolster healthcare systems.