Articles: emergency-medicine.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2022
Sydney 'lockout' liquor licensing law restrictions have been associated with a sustained reduction in emergency department presentations from assaults over 5 years.
The present study assessed the impact of changes to the New South Wales Liquor Act in 2014 on assault-related presentations to the ED of St Vincent's Hospital. This hospital is the primary receiving hospital for the area affected by these laws. ⋯ There has been a significant reduction in assault-related presentations to St Vincent's Hospital following the changes to the liquor licensing laws that has been sustained for 5 years with no significant decrease in the those with severe assault injuries.
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Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg · Oct 2022
Manikins versus simulated patients in emergency medicine training: a comparative analysis.
Every physician must be able to sufficiently master medical emergencies, especially in medical areas where emergencies occur frequently such as in the emergency room or emergency surgery. This contrasts with the observation that medical students and young residents often feel insufficiently prepared to handle medical emergencies. It is therefore necessary to train them in the treatment of emergency patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the assignment of manikin versus simulated patients during a training for undergraduate medical students on learning outcomes and the perceived realism. ⋯ Simulated patients are rated more realistic than manikins and seem to be superior to manikins regarding gained competence.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2022
Attitudes and regard for specific medical conditions among Australian emergency medicine clinicians.
To quantify the attitude ED clinicians hold towards patients presenting with different medical conditions, including a novel pandemic condition. ⋯ Emergency doctors and nurses generally hold lower regard for complex medical conditions with behavioural components, including substance use disorders and somatoform conditions.
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Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a rare, frequently elusive diagnosis, often characterized by vague symptoms and associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. ⋯ We present a case of TBM in a young man with a headache and altered mental status. In addition, we provide a brief history of TBM, review the pathophysiology of the disease, discuss clinical and radiologic features, and detail the management of TBM both emergently and throughout our patient's hospital course. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Our patient's lack of pulmonary symptoms, initially unremarkable head computed tomography, and two prior emergency department evaluations for headache without concerning historical features or physical examination findings collectively highlight the challenges of diagnosing TBM early in its symptom course. We encourage emergency physicians to consider TBM in appropriate patients, particularly those with risk factors for tuberculosis infection.
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Reduction in patient-facing teaching encounters has limited practical exposure to Emergency Medicine for medical students. Simulation has traditionally provided an alternative to patient-facing learning, with increasing integration in courses. Rapid advancements in technology facilitate simulation of realistic complex simulations encountered in the emergency setting. This study evaluated the efficacy of high-fidelity simulation in undergraduate emergency trauma medicine teaching. ⋯ The findings suggest that simulation training within emergency medicine can result in significant increases in both competency and confidence. Benefits were observed over a six-week period. In the context of reduced patient-facing teaching opportunities, emergency medicine simulation training may represent an invaluable mechanism for delivery of teaching.