Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2019
Observational StudyAn early warning system for emerging drugs of concern in the emergency department: Protocol for the Western Australian Illicit Substance Evaluation (WISE) study.
An ever-increasing number of novel psychoactive substances are being detected worldwide. These emerging drugs have been demonstrated to cause toxicity in clusters, and deaths have been reported. We urgently need to learn more about their effects. We report the protocol for the Western Australian Illicit Substance Evaluation (WISE) study, a research project investigating illicit drug use in the ED. ⋯ We consider the novel approach outlined forms a template for an early warning system for emerging drugs of concern, while also providing vital and comprehensive information on current drugs of abuse, their clinical effects and their impact on the health system.
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There is growing recognition of the vital roles that Emergency Physicians can play in public health. Accordingly, there is a need for emergency medicine trainees to have opportunities to acquire relevant public health skillsets. This article provides an example of such a possibility. ⋯ The example illustrates the feasibility and benefits of a public health rotation for interested trainees, and offers recommendations for establishing such rotations. There are challenges, including eligibility requirements and funding. However, possible approaches exist at the individual and college levels to facilitate such training opportunities so that emergency medicine trainees can acquire necessary and valuable public health skills.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2019
Review Meta AnalysisReview article: Outcomes of patients who are not transported following ambulance attendance: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the outcomes of patients who are not transported to hospital following ambulance attendance. A database search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane Library. Studies were included if they analysed the outcomes of patients who were not transported following ambulance attendance. ⋯ Studies found varying estimates for the proportion of patients discharged at the scene that subsequently presented to ED. Few patients were admitted to hospital when the non-transport decision was initiated by EMS, indicating EMS triage is a relatively safe practice. More research is needed to elucidate the context of non-transport decisions and improve access to alternative pathways.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2019
Patient attitudes towards analgesia and their openness to non-pharmacological methods such as acupuncture in the emergency department.
To investigate patient attitudes to analgesia, opioids and non-pharmacological analgesia, including acupuncture, in the ED. ⋯ Most patients were generally satisfied with ED analgesia and were open to non-pharmacologic analgesia including acupuncture.