International emergency nursing
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Review Observational Study
Communication and protocol compliance and their relation to the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): A mixed-methods study of simulated telephone-assisted CPR.
In the event of a cardiac arrest, emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) play a critical role by providing telephone-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (T-CPR) to laypersons. The aim of our investigation was to describe compliance with the T-CPR protocol, the performance of the laypersons in a simulated T-CPR situation, and the communication between laypersons and EMDs during these actions. ⋯ Proper application of T-CPR protocols by EMDs resulted in better performance by laypersons in CPR. The most problematic task for EMDs as well for laypersons was airway management. The study results did not establish that the quality of communication between EMDs and laypersons performing CPR in a cardiac arrest situation led to statistically different outcomes, as measured by the quality and effectiveness of the CPR delivered.
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Review
Quality of healthcare services provided in disaster shelters: An integrative literature review.
Globally, shelters are a resource to promote critical health and safety in disasters, particularly for vulnerable populations (e.g., children, elderly, chronically ill). This study examines the nature and quality of healthcare services rendered in disaster and emergency shelters. ⋯ A small number of population-based and smaller, ad hoc outcomes-based evaluation efforts exist; however the existing literature regarding systematic outcomes-based quality assessment of disaster sheltering healthcare services is notably sparse.
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Studies show that there are differences between men and women when it comes to several aspects of health care. But the research on equal care in a prehospital setting for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been sparsely investigated. The aim of this study is to describe prehospital care from a gender perspective. ⋯ Our results show differences, however not significant in the assessments and performed interventions between gender, with female patients receiving more assessments and interventions compared to male patients during prehospital care. Future research should focus on gender differences in initial early signs of TBI to improve early identification.
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Observational Study
Non-invasive ventilation in the emergency department for patients in type II respiratory failure due to COPD exacerbations.
Acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations can cause respiratory failure and may require non-invasive ventilation (NIV). There is a paucity of studies examining their NIV implementation within the emergency department (ED). ⋯ From this small single centre study, early ABG analyses and NIV initiation were beneficial to COPD patients presenting in respiratory failure with the majority receiving treatment within the recommended guidelines.