Australasian Emergency Care最新文献

Background: Triage quality is central to patient safety and the efficient distribution of emergency department resources. Currently, there are no identified quality indicators for application of the Australasian Triage Scale.

Aim: To address a gap in quality indicators specific to triage.

Design: A literature review and modified Delphi technique.

Method: A review of the literature published between 2001 and 2024 was conducted to identify potential indicators and metrics of triage quality, and were categorised across six quality of care domains (patient-centeredness, timeliness, effectiveness, equity, efficiency and safety). Three consecutive online surveys where panellists rated these indicators for perceived appropriateness, validity and feasibility were completed between August and December 2023.

Results: From the review, 17 initial quality indicators across six quality of care domains were developed. Following round 1, 3 indicators were modified and 8 indicators were added. After two further survey rounds, 18 (72 %) indicators met consensus.

Conclusion: An expert panel validated a set of triage quality indicators for measuring Australian triage practice. A continuous quality improvement approach is required to optimise triage practice, develop processes for detecting and reducing patient harm and minimising variation. Further research is needed to test applicability of the indicators.

Background: Falls are a source of harm, repeat emergency department visits and hospital admission for older adults. Undertaking a comprehensive geriatric screening including falls-risk is recommended in guidelines for optimal older adult emergency department care.

Methods: A pragmatic prospective cohort study was undertaken to evaluate use of further falls-risk screening in older adults in a large tertiary Australian hospital emergency department. Primary outcome measures of interest were length of stay; discharge destination; 30-day and 90-day re-presentations.

Results: Of 651 eligible cases, 320 were randomly recruited for further screening following consent. The implementation cohort spent an average 45 m longer in the emergency department with a greater proportion admitted to the short stay unit, staying there longer than a comparison cohort. There were significantly fewer 30-day fall-related representations (2.9 %) in the implementation cohort.

Conclusions: Despite a small reduction in emergency department re-presentation within 30 days in the implementation cohort, hospital admission was not reduced. Further research is needed to examine any cost-benefit ratio of additional falls-risk screening and intervention in emergency departments.

Background: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are critical for improving survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The expertise of EMS team leaders, such as emergency nurse practitioners (ENPs), may impact patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the role of ENPs and their association with outcomes in OHCA.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on OHCA cases treated by EMS from 2017 to 2020. Data included ENP presence, number of healthcare personnel, patient demographics, initial rhythm, bystander CPR, physician presence, patient access time, and scene time. Primary outcome was prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), with secondary outcome being ROSC at the emergency department (ED).

Results: Among 212 OHCA cases treated by EMS, ENPs were present in 14.6 % of cases. Prehospital ROSC was 11.3 %, while ROSC at the ED was 48.1 %. ENP presence was not associated with increased prehospital ROSC (p = 0.19) but was linked to higher overall ROSC rates at the ED (p = 0.03).

Conclusions: Including ENPs in EMS teams may improve short-term survival outcomes for OHCA patients, particularly at the ED. Further research is needed to explore the broader impact of ENPs in prehospital care.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-crisis almost five years ago, Emergency Departments (EDs) in Australian hospitals have increasingly been confronted with the phenomenon of "access block" in which the flow of patients to inpatient units is delayed or obstructed. This creates tension between ED staff and health professionals employed in inpatient units. With the current political discourse, there is little reason to hope that this problem will be solved in the short term. As long as no radical changes are made at the political level to combat the issue of access block, the hands of individual clinicians are tied to existing models of care. In this letter to the editor, we outline how the problem of access block occurs in the ED of a Queensland-based hospital and the impact it generates. But also how healthcare leaders can adequately manage the tension between ED and inpatient staff, underscoring the crucial role of emotional intelligence.

Background: The most commonly reported side effect of intramuscular injection is pain. Cold needles and ShotBlocker can be used as non-pharmacological methods for pain relief. This study aims to determine the effect of cold needle and ShotBlocker on pain and satisfaction in intramuscular injection pain.

Methods: This is a triple-blind, randomized controlled study. The study was conducted on 120 patients (40: control, 40: cold needle, 40: ShotBlocker) who presented to the emergency department of a university hospital in Turkey for cyanocobalamin injection in July-August 2024. Data were collected using a patient identification form, visual pain scale (VPS), and injection satisfaction scale. SPSS statistical package (version 22.0; SPSS, Inc., USA) was used to analyze the data.

Results: In the study, the groups were found to be similar except for age and continuous drug use. The pain scores of the control group were significantly higher than those of the cold needle and ShotBlocker groups. Injection satisfaction was significantly higher in the cold needle and ShotBlocker groups than in the control group.

Conclusion: Both the Cold Needle and the ShotBlocker can be used as effective methods to reduce pain associated with intramuscular injections and improve injection satisfaction. Both methods are non-pharmacological, inexpensive, and easy to use, and they can be used safely and effectively in all clinical settings.

Background: Providing care for patients nearing the end of life who have advanced heart failure presents significant challenges, especially in emergency settings where the primary focus is on life-saving interventions. Exploring the perceptions of emergency department staff is essential for identifying barriers and improving care delivery in this critical context.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in two hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Semi-structured interviews were completed with thirty emergency staff. A thematic analysis was used to identify the challenges in delivering care for patients nearing the end of life.

Results: Seven themes were identified: current practices for advanced heart failure patients, communication barriers, inadequate training in end-of-life care, limitations in emergency department design, heavy workloads, the influence of cultural and religious factors, and the importance of psychological and emotional support for patients and families. The findings highlight the need for structured training, cultural sensitivity, and improved environments to address these challenges.

Conclusions: This study emphasizes the complexities of providing care for patients nearing the end of life in emergency settings. Addressing gaps in communication, training, and cultural competence is critical. Tailored strategies for Saudi Arabia's unique context are essential to enhance care for advanced heart failure patients.

Background: Paramedics in Australia present as the opportune medical personnel to initiate medical intervention of seizure presentations and perform a fundamental role in the prevention of seizure associated morbidity and mortality. Despite being well equipped to manage seizures, no literature exists regarding their confidence to recognise, differentiate, or manage seizures.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was undertaken by 168 paramedics practicing clinically for the Queensland Ambulance Service in Australia. The survey assessed paramedic perceived self-confidence surrounding seizure presentations. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H-Test and post hoc pairwise comparisons were conducted to assess between group differences in relation to practicing qualifications, and years of service.

Results: Paramedics were confident in generalised convulsive seizure recognition and management, however, displayed less confidence surrounding non-convulsive, focal, and psychogenic seizure classifications. Critical care paramedics reported higher confidence than advanced care and graduate paramedics across various seizure presentation elements (p < 0.05). Paramedics with greater than 10 years of service reported higher confidence than those with fewer years of service, particularly less than two years.

Conclusion: Future education and professional development opportunities for paramedics require a greater focus on the development of self-confidence, with mechanisms implemented to increase paramedics' exposure to the broad spectrum of seizure presentations.

Background: Emergency department pre-triage waiting periods have received limited attention. We aimed to explore the pre-triage experiences and perspectives of consumers attending emergency departments.

Methods: This mixed-methods cross-sectional study included 92 participants (patients, carers, and guardians) who attended one of three public hospital emergency departments in metropolitan Melbourne (Victoria, Australia). Quantitative self-report outcomes were waiting time (minutes) and number of previous emergency department visits. Qualitative outcomes (explored through content analysis) were consumer experiences and perspectives of emergency departments in general and the pre-triage waiting period specifically.

Results: Participants reported a median (IQR) waiting time since triage of 45 (100) minutes and 65 % (n = 60) experienced a pre-triage waiting time of 3-90 minutes. The most common perception of the pre-triage waiting period was an expectation to wait (n = 16, 17 %), yet 46 % (n = 42) reported difficulties during this period, such as other patients cutting in queue (n = 6, 6.5 %). Few positives were associated with the pre-triage waiting period and suggestions to improve this period tended to focus on facilitating a queuing system (n = 18, 20 %).

Conclusion: Consumers expected and understood triage, yet reported various difficulties and few positives during the pre-triage waiting period and suggested improvements to the current system, warranting investigation of interventions to improve queuing.

Background: With aging and comorbid populations and healthcare services under pressure, emergency department presentations related to palliative care needs are increasing. Little is known about patient and family experiences of care in this context. This study explores the emergency department care experiences of palliative patients and their family members.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with patients known to palliative care services who had presented to an urban emergency department within the study recruitment period. Six patients and five family members were interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis methodology was underpinned by social constructivism.

Findings: Participants often described misalignment between emergency care priorities and their own, which was sometimes associated with challenges, including dehumanisation. However, participants also shared stories of supported self-advocacy, associated with positive care experiences.

Conclusion: This research identifies challenges patients and their family experience when accessing emergency department care. Symptom management, time, environment, and advocacy were impactful aspects of patient and family experience. There is a need to develop and support palliative care skills and knowledge within EDs, and adapt the environment to provide a safe space for sensitive communication and person-centred care.

Background: Effective staff-to-staff and patient-provider communication in the Emergency Department (ED) is essential for safe, quality care. Routine wearing of Personal-Protective-Equipment (PPE) has introduced new challenges to communication. We aimed to understand the perspectives of ED staff about communicating while wearing PPE, and to identify factors contributing to communication success, breakdown, and repair.

Methods: Study design was a descriptive cross-sectional online survey with convenience sampling. Categorical data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data analysed using content thematic analysis.

Results: Across nursing, medical and allied health, 78 staff responded with mean age= 38.8 years and mean ED clinical experience= 8.8 years). Respondents reported PPE impacted communication with patients/family members (81 %) and staff (61 %), with almost three-quarters of patient interactions rated as "somewhat difficult" or "extremely difficult". Content themes were: (i) impacts of mask-wearing on communication, (ii) impacts of mask-wearing on patient care quality and safety, and (iii) strategies for repairing communication breakdown. Health impacts of communicating in PPE (50 %) included voice fatigue, skin irritation, and throat dryness.

Conclusion: ED staff perceived that wearing PPE impacted communication and compromised safe and efficient quality care delivery. Staff reported using increased voice volume, repetition, gestures, increased proximity, and emphasised facial movements to enhance their communication.