Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
The use and impact of pathology tests in emergency department patients with mental health-related complaints: A cross sectional study.
To evaluate the use and impact of pathology tests in patients who present to the ED with mental health-related complaints. The primary objective is to measure the proportion of patients undergoing pathology tests and assess whether these tests trigger a change in management. ⋯ Pathology tests should be reserved for patients with high-risk features and based on clinical assessment. Strategic use of pathology tests could avoid unnecessary delays and costs, enhancing patient care in mental health-related ED presentations.
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Improved understanding of the deteriorating patient in the pre-hospital setting may result in earlier recognition and response. Considering the effects of undetected deterioration are profound, it is fundamental to report the prevalence of pre-hospital clinical deterioration to advance our understanding. The present study investigated the prevalence of pre-hospital clinical deterioration and adverse events (AEs) within 3 days of the pre-hospital episode of care. ⋯ The present study found the prevalence of pre-hospital clinical deterioration and AEs subsequent to pre-hospital episodes of care to be low. Future research should prioritise using standardised criteria to define pre-hospital clinical deterioration and evaluate the performance of early warning scores.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
ReviewReview article: Electronic screening and brief intervention for alcohol-related trauma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Electronic Screening and Brief Intervention (e-SBI) in changing or reducing alcohol consumption and/or related risk behaviours among trauma patients compared to standard of care. Following Cochrane Collaboration's guidelines and PRISMA recommendations, a search of electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science) and grey literature (Google Scholar) was conducted. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from 1995 to 2023 were included, focusing on e-SBI for alcohol misuse in trauma patients. ⋯ However, uncertainties and methodological variations highlight the need for standardised outcome measurements, consistent reporting and further exploration of e-SBI's long-term impact. Relevance to health promotion: Understanding the effectiveness of e-SBI in managing alcohol-related issues among trauma patients is crucial for health promotion. Despite uncertainties, the findings underscore the potential of e-SBI as a scalable and accessible intervention. e-SBI in the setting of the present study, emphasises the importance of tailored approaches in public health strategies.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Sources and content of advice sought by parents/guardians prior to emergency department attendance.
To describe sources of advice and the recommendations given to parents/guardians prior to attending ED with their child. ⋯ Most parents and guardians sought advice from a single source prior to attending an ED. The most common source of advice was consultation with a general practitioner and the most common recommendation was to attend ED immediately, or if their child's condition worsened.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Effectiveness of a Disability Liaison Officer service in a metropolitan emergency department.
To identify the influence of a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) service in the ED setting on people with disability (PWD). For this project, PWD included adults with communication disability, intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder. ⋯ The DLO service was associated with a reduction in ED LOS for PWD. Further assessment of the service using patient- and carer-reported outcome measures and cost-effectiveness studies are indicated.