European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
-
The objective of this paper was to assess the resuscitation training and knowledge status of medical and surgical residents (SRs). A questionnaire of 23 questions was answered by medical and SRs in an Athens General Hospital. The questionnaire was designed based on the 2005 resuscitation guidelines. ⋯ With regard to the knowledge questions, the mean score, on a maximum scale of 10, was 5.39±1.93 for the medical residents and 5.27±2.33 for the SRs. Their resuscitation knowledge was positively influenced by their attendance of Basic Life Support (P=0.005) and Advanced Life Support/Advanced Cardiac Life Support courses (P=0.013). Residents in this tertiary general hospital in Athens had inadequate knowledge of resuscitation guidelines and the majority of them were not currently certified in any of these courses.
-
Comparative Study
How different are older people discharged from emergency departments compared with those admitted to hospital?
To compare the characteristics of older people presenting to the emergency department (ED) and admitted to hospital with those discharged directly from the ED and identify factors independently associated with hospital admission. ⋯ In this elderly population, health-related variables were the only independent factors associated with hospital admission. Approximately 30% of patients discharged home from ED had similar risk profiles to admitted patients.
-
The epidemiology and optimal management of injury to the paediatric scaphoid (carpal navicular) is unknown.The objective of this study is to evaluate these parameters in the Emergency Department of a tertiary children's hospital. ⋯ Pain in the anatomical snuff box is a poor indicator of bone injury to the scaphoid of any sort. Scaphoid fracture is a rare injury in childhood and from this study, it is extremely unlikely to occur under the age of 9 years.The actual bone pathology of an injured paediatric scaphoid may not be clear, but these children have significant pain and tenderness. Further studies are warranted to improve the diagnostic process and the management of paediatric scaphoid injury.
-
This study evaluates the effects of an educational intervention and the use of a preprinted form on the adequacy of documentation of procedural sedation in an adult emergency department. ⋯ Baseline documentation was poor and improved slightly after both the educational interventions. Use of a preprinted form was associated with no medical records being classified as having poor documentation; however, uptake of the form use was low. Emergency departments should develop and consider mandatory use of such an aid together with training staff in the use of the aid and the important implications of adequate procedural documentation.