Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2024
Prevalence of alcohol and other drug detections in non-transport injury events.
To measure the prevalence of alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) detections in suspected major trauma patients with non-transport injuries who presented to an adult major trauma centre. ⋯ AOD detections were common in trauma patients with non-transport injury causes. Population-level surveillance is needed to inform prevention strategies that address AOD use as a significant risk factor for serious injury.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2024
Changing culture: An intervention to improve blood culture quality in the emergency department.
Blood cultures (BCs) remain a key investigation in ED patients at risk of bacteraemia. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a multi-modal, nursing-led intervention to improve the quality of BCs in the ED, in terms of single culture, underfilling and contamination rates. ⋯ Significant improvements in BC quality are possible with nursing-based interventions in the ED.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2024
Determinants of fatigue in emergency department clinicians who wear personal protective equipment.
To determine the independent predictors for clinician fatigue and decline in cognitive function following a shift in the ED during early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Working afternoon shifts was associated with fatigue. There was no association between HRZ allocation and fatigue, but our study was limited by a low COVID workload and fluctuating PPE requirements in the non-HRZs. Workplace interventions that target the prevention of fatigue in ED clinicians working afternoon shifts should be prioritised.