Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Tracheal intubation is the accepted gold standard for emergency department (ED) airway management. It may be performed by both anaesthetists and emergency physicians (EPs), with or without drugs. ⋯ Tracheal intubations using RSI in the ED are performed by EPs almost as often as by anaesthetists in this district hospital. Overall success and complication rates are comparable for the two specialties. Laryngoscopy training and the need to achieve intubation at the first (optimum) attempt needs to be emphasised in EP airway training.
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Full-shift working by senior house officers (SHOs) is well recognised as a definite constraint to effective group learning, as it is practically impossible to gather all team members together for teaching sessions at any given time. Provision of a robust weekly teaching programme is further compromised in units where relatively few doctors participate in the rota in any case. Although practical skills tuition will always demand an intensive, hands-on learning environment, teaching in relation to case-based discussion, clinical problem solving and other group activities may well be suited to more innovative methods.
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To assess knowledge of capacity and consent among emergency healthcare workers. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that emergency healthcare workers do not have adequate knowledge about how to assess capacity and treat people who either refuse treatment or lack capacity. It shows a need for further training among doctors, nurses and ambulance staff working in the emergency setting.
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This study aimed to develop a definition of frequent use of an emergency department (ED) by comparing differences in the observed frequency distribution with that of a theoretical frequency distribution. ⋯ We have identified that there is a group of patients who present repeatedly due to non-random events, confirming the existence of "frequent users". Their characteristics are clearly different to other patients in the ED. We propose that "frequent users" be defined as any patient who makes more than four attendances per year.
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To determine the publication rate of abstracts presented by UK emergency physicians at major emergency medicine meetings, and to identify the site of publication of papers. ⋯ The abstract-to-publication ratio for UK emergency medicine is lower than for other specialties, but broadly similar to emergency medicine in the US and Australia.