Prehospital and disaster medicine
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Apr 2013
Level of disaster preparedness in patients visiting the emergency department: results of the civilian assessment of readiness for disaster (CARD) survey.
Patients seeking care in public hospitals are often resource-limited populations who have in past disasters become the most vulnerable. The objective of this study was to determine the personal disaster preparedness of emergency department (ED) patients and to identify predictors of low levels of preparedness. It was hypothesized that vulnerable populations would be better prepared for disasters. ⋯ This study and others have found that only the minority of any group is actually prepared for disaster. Future research should focus on ways to implement disaster preparedness education, specifically targeting vulnerable populations, then measuring the effects of educational programs to demonstrate that preparedness has increased as a result.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Apr 2013
Major incidents in Kenya: the case for emergency services development and training.
Kenya's major incidents profile is dominated by droughts, floods, fires, terrorism, poisoning, collapsed buildings, accidents in the transport sector and disease/epidemics. With no integrated emergency services and a lack of resources, many incidents in Kenya escalate to such an extent that they become major incidents. Lack of specific training of emergency services personnel to respond to major incidents, poor coordination of major incident management activities, and a lack of standard operational procedures and emergency operation plans have all been shown to expose victims to increased morbidity and mortality. This report provides a review of some of the major incidents in Kenya for the period 2000-2012, with the hope of highlighting the importance of developing an integrated and well-trained Ambulance and Fire and Rescue service appropriate for the local health care system.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Apr 2013
Multicenter StudyPrehospital Sepsis Project (PSP): knowledge and attitudes of United States advanced out-of-hospital care providers.
Severe sepsis and septic shock are common and often fatal medical problems. The Prehospital Sepsis Project is a multifaceted study that aims to improve the out-of-hospital care of patients with sepsis by means of education and enhancement of skills. The objective of this Project was to assess the knowledge and attitudes in the principles of diagnosis and management of sepsis in a cohort of United States out-of-hospital care providers. ⋯ Poor understanding of the principles of diagnosis and management of sepsis was observed in this cohort, suggesting the need for enhancement of education. Survey items will be used to develop a focused, interactive Web-based learning program. Limitations include potential for self-selection and data accuracy.
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Paramedics rely on establishing a health provider-patient relationship with patients that promotes two-way communication, patient satisfaction, and facilitates appropriate patient assessment and treatment. Paramedics also must have an ability to empathize with patients and their family members in order to develop a successful health provider-patient relationship. The objective of this study was to assess paramedics' empathy and attitudes toward patients with specific conditions. ⋯ The results of this study provide the discipline of paramedic health care with useful data, and provide students, academics, and other educators with important information regarding the improvement of the health provider-patient relationship and paramedic education curriculum development.
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Emergency medical care in Pakistan has not been a priority of medical education and training because of the country's need to address its lack of primary care. Resources and trained personnel are scarce. Despite these challenges, the value of emergency medical care is gaining attention. The objective of this study was to explore the breadth of Emergency Medicine training in Pakistan through an analysis of an Emergency Medicine residency in a teaching hospital. The Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi is a teaching institution with the only Emergency Medicine residency program in the region. It was started in 2000, led by US-trained physicians, and it laid the foundation for Emergency Medicine in the country. ⋯ The hospital admitted patients with complaints that were expected in the region. Although Aga Khan University Hospital is a pioneer in establishing Emergency Medicine as an official medical discipline in the region, the hospital's obstetrics and gynecology, trauma, toxicology and prehospital services training do not meet current curriculum standards set forth by the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine and the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors. Nevertheless, the review provides a snapshot of the development of Emergency Medical Services in a developing nation. This information may assist other nations that are interested in developing such programs.