Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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To establish the aetiological influences of persistent neck pain following a motor vehicle collision and to construct a model for use in the emergency department for identifying patients at high risk of persistent symptoms. ⋯ The greatest predictors of persistent neck pain following a motor vehicle collision relate to psychological distress and aspects of pre-collision health rather than to various attributes of the collision itself. With these factors, and those relating to initial injury severity, it is possible to identify a subgroup of patients presenting with neck pain with the highest risk of persistent symptoms. Thus, it is possible to identify whiplash patients with a poor prognosis and to provide closer follow up and specific attention to management in these individuals.
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Multicenter Study
Standards for head injury management in acute hospitals: evidence from the six million population of the Eastern region.
To develop standards of care for head injury and thereby identify and prioritize areas of the service needing development; to report the findings from a survey of compliance with such standards in the Eastern region of UK. ⋯ A survey of compliance with the head injury standards indicate that, with their whole systems approach and subject to further refinement, they are a useful method for identifying deficiencies in service provision and monitoring for quality of care both within organisations and regionally.
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Multicenter Study
Primary headache disorder in the emergency department: perspective from a general neurology outpatient clinic.
Over a six month period, 22% of patients with headache seen in general neurology outpatient clinics reported prior attendance at an emergency department because of their headache; 9% of the headache cohort had been admitted to hospital. All had primary headache disorders according to International Headache Society diagnostic criteria. Improved primary care services for headache patients are required to reduce the burden of primary headache disorders seen in emergency departments.
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Elderly victims of motor vehicle collisions are increasing with the aging population. This study aimed to investigate the injury pattern of elderly victims involved in motor vehicle collisions. ⋯ Elderly victims of motor vehicle collisions have a higher risk of chest injuries, especially of chest wall injuries. Age specific injury patterns are important in determining primary and secondary prevention strategies.
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Multicenter Study
Effectiveness of measures to reduce emergency department waiting times: a natural experiment.
To determine what measures were introduced by emergency departments in response to the national monitoring week in March 2003, and which, if any, of these were most effective in reducing waiting times. ⋯ Improved waiting time performance may depend, at least in the short term, more on the amount of effort expended than on introducing a single effective change. In addition, those measures most likely to be helpful are likely also to require additional resources.