The district hospital emergency department: Why do parents present?

Objective: To identify parental reasons for presenting their child to the emergency department and their expectations of the consultation. Method: Cross‐sectional survey of parents of children and adolescents aged 14 years and under who presented to the Fairfield Emergency Department over a 2‐month period. Results: A questionnaire was returned from 694 of 839 eligible presentations (83%), with 51% having an urgent triage and 26% being admitted. Proximity was nominated as the reason for choosing the Fairfield Emergency Department by 48%, 62% of presentations were self‐referred and 44% had already seen another doctor. An urgent triage was associated with parental expectation of admission or observation in the emergency department (OR 2.79 [95% CI: 1.98–3.94]). Conclusions: The majority of presentations to the district emergency department are self‐referred and it is chosen because of proximity. The majority of children do not require admission; however, parents often have expectations that observation and further investigation will occur prior to discharge from the emergency department.     

Child fever management: A comparative study of Australian parents with limited and functional health literacy

Health literacy, or the ability to read and understand health information, is critical to the health of children. In this study, we compared the fever management knowledge of parents attending the emergency department with a child with fever. A cross‐sectional survey of 33 parents/carers with limited health literacy and 122 with functional health literacy was undertaken. There were no differences in the overall proportion of correct responses to knowledge or management questions posed by the two scales between the two groups. Both groups presented with limited knowledge and poor practices (<60% correct in both scales) in relation to fever knowledge and management in their children. Although health literacy impacts health utilization, we did not find any differences in these groups. Inappropriate practices, such as when to give medications, were evident. Educational programs, responsive to health literacy, are urgently needed to address these information needs for parents. An assessment of parents' health literacy level can guide the selection of information that can be easily read, understood, and acted upon to deliver the best health outcomes for children.     

Evaluation of prehospital emergency care in the field and during the ambulance drive to the hospital

This study was conducted to evaluate the appropriateness of ambulance procedures and interventions in the management of patients dispatched to 2 emergency departments (EDs) of urban hospitals in Izmir. Use of trauma boards and cervical collars, airway patency, breathing, and circulation problems were recorded in both EDs. Eighty-one patients with a mean age of 47.54±2.36 years (range, 4–89) brought into the ED via ambulances were enrolled in the study. Airway maneuvers were performed in patients with airway and breathing problems. There was no significant relationship between administration of IV fluids and the presence of circulatory impairment (P=.053). A trauma board was used in 9 of 30 trauma cases (30%) and a cervical collar in 6 of 30 (20%). It was concluded that basic procedures used in the management of patients brought into the ED via ambulances were inadequate.     

急诊科护士急救知识技能掌握情况的调查研究

目的　了解急诊科护士急救知识、技能的获得途径和现阶段的掌握情况 ,探讨影响其业务素质的因素。方法　采用问卷调查法对上海市 9所医院 2 82名急诊科护士进行调查 ,统计处理用Excel和SAS软件包进行。计量资料用t检验和方差分析 ,计数数据以百分比表示 ,知识得分影响因素的分析运用多元逐步回归的方法。结果　急诊科护士的平均知识得分为 71.95± 10 .75 ;知识得分 =62 .3 67+0 .5 2 5护龄 +2 .15 6职务。护龄、职务对护士知识得分的影响差异显著 ,不同级别医院知识得分差别不显著。结论　急诊科护士急救知识技能的全面素质需进一步提高 ,低护龄护士毕业后教育工作应引起高度重视 ,充分发挥高年资护士的业务专长。对急救业务影响因素的分析研究和怎样进一步提高护士急救水平的研究尚需继续深入。     

Overanxious parents

Some parents experience excessive anxiety when their children have minor illnesses. Characteristic behaviors of overanxious parents include a reluctance to finish the office visit and a lack of satisfaction with treatment recommendations. The failure of these parents to recognize the underlying sources of their anxiety may result in dissatisfaction with care, inappropriate use of the health care system and problems in the parent-child relationship.     

急诊科护士专业水平及培训现状调查分析

目的　了解急诊科护士对急救知识、技能的获取途径、掌握现状及学习需求 ,探讨对急诊科护士开展专业培训的意义和实施方法。方法　采用问卷调查法对上海市 9所医院 2 82名急诊科护士进行调查 ,统计处理用Excel和SAS软件包进行。结果　急诊护士的专业知识平均得分为 71 .95± 1 0 .75分 ,但作为急诊中坚力量的年轻护士平均得分不尽人意。结论　有必要开展急诊科护士专业培训 ,培训内容和形式应结合我国实际、针对薄弱环节开展     

战时意外紧急状态应急预案的制订

为了提高战时卫勤保障应急能力和战伤救治水平，做好新时期军事斗争卫勤准备。结合1979年及1984年云南边境战时卫勤保障情况，查阅资料，组织到边防调查研究。研制一套完整的战时意外紧急状态时的应急预案。     

国内外急救医疗服务体系发展的回顾与展望

综述了美、德、法、英等国的急救医疗服务体系发展特点 ;我国急救医疗体系起源与发展、急救模式、急救人员、急救工具、急救网络特点以及我国急救医疗服务体系的发展展望 :提高急诊应急能力 ;建立和完善城市救援系统 ;实现急救装备的现代化 ;加强急救人员培训 ;加强急救医疗服务的区域性协作 ,开展国际交流与合作。