Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
-
The objective was to identify key questions for emergency medicine (EM)-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health and to develop an evidence-based research agenda. ⋯ We identified critical questions to inform EM-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research. Because evidence-based care has potential to improve health outcomes while reducing costs associated with HIV/STI and unintended pregnancy, funders and researchers should consider increasing attention to these key questions.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Video Discharge Instructions for Acute Otitis Media in Children: A Randomized Controlled Open-label Trial.
Thirty percent of children with acute otitis media (AOM) experience symptoms < 7 days after initiating treatment, highlighting the importance of comprehensive discharge instructions. ⋯ Video discharge instructions in the ED are associated with less perceived AOM symptomatology compared to a paper handout.
-
Pediatric seizures are commonly encountered in emergency medical services (EMS). Evidence is accumulating that the rate of hypoglycemia in this setting is low, challenging the concept of routine prehospital glucose measurement. ⋯ Compliance is suboptimal, varying with patient age, race, and EMT-P presence. Testing increases when antiepileptic drugs are used. Hypoglycemia in tested patients was infrequent; however, proper treatment for hypoglycemic seizures will not be delivered if testing does not occur. It is worthwhile examining the utility of routine testing in this setting; however, until such time as protocols are revised, regional EMS administration should focus on education and uniform compliance with state protocols.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
A Multifaceted Intervention to Improve Patient Knowledge and Safe Use of Opioids: Results of the ED EMC2 Randomized Controlled Trial.
Despite increased focus on opioid prescribing, little is known about the influence of prescription opioid medication information given to patients in the emergency department (ED). The study objective was to evaluate the effect of an Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC2 ) Opioid Strategy on patients' safe use of opioids and knowledge about opioids. ⋯ The study found that the EMC2 tools improved demonstrated safe dosing, but these benefits did not translate into actual use based on medication dairies. The text-messaging intervention did result in improved patient knowledge.