Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
ReviewReview article: Scoping review of interventions that reduce mechanical restraint in the emergency department.
Mechanical restraints are known to be associated with many undesirable outcomes in clinical settings. Our objective was to examine the current literature to explore possible interventions that would reduce the use of mechanical restraints in the ED. ⋯ Evidence supports further exploration of interventions that include: designing an agitation guideline; training staff in assessment, attitudinal and de-escalation skills; addition of a crisis team; and environmental changes in the form of adding a dedicated clinical space. Although these strategies may reduce mechanical restraint in the ED setting, further high-quality studies are needed before definitive conclusions may be drawn.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
ReviewReview article: Somatization Disorders in emergency department: A critical overview of current challenges and future directions.
Individuals with Somatization Disorders present frequently to the ED with non-cardiac chest pain, non-specific abdominal pain, headaches and a range of other non-specific symptoms. Somatization Disorder presentations are ubiquitous within the healthcare system. ⋯ The current review explores the scope of the problem and, the challenges inherent in diagnosing and treating these disorders in ED environments. Based on available evidence and the essential character of these disorders, future directions are suggested for more effective emergency management and possible referral from ED.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
Review Meta AnalysisReview article: Electronic screening and brief intervention for alcohol-related trauma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Electronic Screening and Brief Intervention (e-SBI) in changing or reducing alcohol consumption and/or related risk behaviours among trauma patients compared to standard of care. Following Cochrane Collaboration's guidelines and PRISMA recommendations, a search of electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science) and grey literature (Google Scholar) was conducted. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from 1995 to 2023 were included, focusing on e-SBI for alcohol misuse in trauma patients. ⋯ However, uncertainties and methodological variations highlight the need for standardised outcome measurements, consistent reporting and further exploration of e-SBI's long-term impact. Relevance to health promotion: Understanding the effectiveness of e-SBI in managing alcohol-related issues among trauma patients is crucial for health promotion. Despite uncertainties, the findings underscore the potential of e-SBI as a scalable and accessible intervention. e-SBI in the setting of the present study, emphasises the importance of tailored approaches in public health strategies.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
Review Meta AnalysisReview article: Electronic screening and brief intervention for alcohol-related trauma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Electronic Screening and Brief Intervention (e-SBI) in changing or reducing alcohol consumption and/or related risk behaviours among trauma patients compared to standard of care. Following Cochrane Collaboration's guidelines and PRISMA recommendations, a search of electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science) and grey literature (Google Scholar) was conducted. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from 1995 to 2023 were included, focusing on e-SBI for alcohol misuse in trauma patients. ⋯ However, uncertainties and methodological variations highlight the need for standardised outcome measurements, consistent reporting and further exploration of e-SBI's long-term impact. Relevance to health promotion: Understanding the effectiveness of e-SBI in managing alcohol-related issues among trauma patients is crucial for health promotion. Despite uncertainties, the findings underscore the potential of e-SBI as a scalable and accessible intervention. e-SBI in the setting of the present study, emphasises the importance of tailored approaches in public health strategies.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
ReviewReview article: Primer for clinical researchers on innovative trial designs for emergency medicine.
Randomised trials have long been recognised as the gold standard research tool for evidence-based medicine. The past decade has seen the emergence of several innovative trial designs that are revolutionising how trials are conducted. ⋯ We describe the main features of each design, outline their pros and cons, and describe when they may or may not be useful. We also provide examples of these innovative designs in contexts that are relevant to emergency medicine.