Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2008
Comparative StudyEffect of a review course on emergency medicine residents' self-confidence.
Several organizations offer review courses designed to guide final-year (postgraduate year five) residents' study for their certification examination. The effect of these courses on residents' confidence is unknown. Self-confidence has been positively linked with examination performance. The present study measures the impact of a review course on fifth-year emergency medicine residents' overall confidence and confidence in their: (i) knowledge and its application; (ii) planned study strategies to master the knowledge/application; and (iii) recognition that mastery of knowledge/application had been achieved. ⋯ A review course increased emergency medicine residents' self-assessed confidence in their knowledge/application, in their study strategies and in their recognition of mastery, beyond the course specifics.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2008
Paediatric and adolescent horse-related injuries: does the mechanism of injury justify a trauma response?
To identify the frequency, variety and disposition of horse-related injury presentations to the ED and to use this information to evaluate the existing institutional trauma team activation criteria following horse-related injuries. ⋯ Although horse-related injury presentations are uncommon, severe injuries do occur. Patients presenting with severe horse-related injuries do not always activate a full trauma team response based on current trauma team activation criteria. These severe injury presentations are supported by a limited trauma team response, which activates on the mechanism of injury. The effectiveness of this as a contingency system needs to be evaluated.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2008
Accuracy of current clinical diagnosis in recreational drug-related attendance to the emergency department.
To determine the accuracy of current clinical diagnosis in recreational drug-related attendances to emergency by blood analysis. ⋯ Clinical diagnosis in recreational drug-related attendances to the ED was correct in most cases. Drugs, such as GHB, were the most accurately diagnosed. Inaccuracy in recognizing other drugs, like amphetamines, opiates and alcohol, occurs where a coingestant produces a more profound clinical picture. Multiple drug ingestion is a common scenario in recreational drug presentations to emergency.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2008
Comparative StudyStreaming by case complexity: evaluation of a model for emergency department Fast Track.
To evaluate a patient flow streaming system within a teaching hospital's ED, using functional principles to separate patients into two streams on the basis of complexity rather than acuity, severity or disposition. ⋯ Key features in the success of the system included use of dedicated senior staff for Fast Track patients, and quarantining of clinical resources. The ED aiming to improve their waiting times and throughput should consider using complexity as a key criterion for triaging patients into separate streams. A low-complexity patient stream in the ED provides an ideal focus for advanced nursing practice.