Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
What is a compassionate response in the emergency department? Learner evaluation of an End-of-Life Essentials online education module.
To evaluate the End-of-Life Essentials education module 'Emergency Department End-of-Life Care' and explore learners' views on what constitutes a compassionate response in the ED. ⋯ The 'Emergency Department End-of-Life Care' module had a significant positive impact on learners in relation to perceived knowledge, skill, attitude and confidence. This evaluation suggests that the End-of-Life Essentials ED module could be a useful online learning resource for health professionals.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Analysis of the Australia and New Zealand referral criteria for transfer to a liver unit for paracetamol overdose.
Paracetamol overdose is common and can lead to fulminant hepatic failure. In cases that are not improving with standard medical therapy with N-acetylcysteine, some patients may require liver transplant. The Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) referral criteria for transfer to a liver unit have not been extensively studied for its predictive value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ANZ referral criteria for predicting mortality in paracetamol overdose. ⋯ The ANZ referral criteria were highly sensitive for predicting the outcome of mortality and transplant. This is important for screening patients who may become unstable and difficult to transfer at a later stage of their admission.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Establishing determinants and quality indicators for getting home alive following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: the Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data Project.
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to a significant burden across Australia. However, the data required to inform targeted equitable system-level improvements in emergency TBI care do not exist. The incidence and determinants of outcomes following moderate to severe TBI in Australia remain unknown. ⋯ Furthermore, this project will establish a set of national clinical quality indicators for patients experiencing a moderate to severe TBI. The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data Project will inform where to target emergency care system-wide improvements. Without baseline data, efforts are wasted.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Observational StudyBenign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the emergency department: An observational study of an Australian regional hospital's acute clinical practice.
To analyse adherence to evidence based practice in the diagnosis and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in a regional ED. ⋯ Adherence to best practice diagnosis and management of BPPV was low in Wyong Hospital's ED. Although low, Wyong Hospital's ED appeared to perform better in compliance to the clinical guidelines to its metropolitan Australian peer. There is opportunity to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the management of acute peripheral dizziness in EDs.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Characteristics of emergency patients admitted to hospital with asthma: A population-based cohort study in Queensland, Australia.
Patient characteristics with exacerbation of asthma accessing care in the ED who are at risk of hospital admission have not been determined in subtropical climates. The objective of the study was to investigate the spatiotemporal burden of asthma hospital admissions across Queensland (QLD) and model risk factors for asthma hospital admission following an ED visit. ⋯ Asthma hospital admissions appear to be increasing in QLD, largely driven by utilisation of the SSU admissions for asthma. With large variation in both incidence and proportion admitted across different regions, routinely collected data can in part be used to understand risk factors for asthma-related hospital admission following an ED presentation and further inform public health policy development.