Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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To explore attitudes surrounding exception from informed consent enrollment into research studies. In addition, the authors sought to determine the level of awareness of such an ongoing study among potential subjects, as defined by their presence in an emergency department (ED). ⋯ The overall awareness of an ongoing exception from informed consent trial after community consultation and notification was low. A population with potential for enrollment in such a study did not demonstrate a high degree of acceptance of such practices. There were differences among certain demographic groups in the degree of acceptance. These differences may guide institutional review boards and investigators in community-consultation strategies for future waiver of or exception from informed consent studies.
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Despite national attention, there is little evidence that the quality of emergency department (ED) pain management is improving. ⋯ Although the quality of ED pain management for acute fractures appears to be improving, there is still room for further improvement.
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Patients with recent normal cardiac catheterization are at low risk for complications of ischemic chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography has high correlation with cardiac catheterization for detection of coronary stenosis. Therefore, the investigators' emergency department (ED) incorporated CT coronary angiography into the evaluation of low-risk patients with chest pain. ⋯ When used in the clinical setting for the evaluation of ED patients with low-risk chest pain, CT coronary angiography may safely allow rapid discharge of patients with negative studies. Further study to conclusively determine the safety and cost effectiveness of this approach is warranted.