Emergency department presentations during the State of Origin rugby league series: a retrospective statewide analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the State of Origin rugby league series on the number of emergency department (ED) presentations in Queensland. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis of Emergency Department Information System data from 25 Queensland EDs for game 10s and matched control 10s during the annual State of Origin series from 2005 to 2012. The Queensland team won seven of the eight series in this period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of patients presenting to Queensland EDs on 24 game 10s and 80 control 10s. RESULTS: Proportionally, a binomial test indicated there were significantly fewer ED presentations on game 10s (49,702) than on control 10s (172,351) (P<0.001). On average, there were 2,154 presentations per 10 on control 10s and 2,071 on game 10s, representing a 4% reduction on game 10s. CONCLUSION: We found that the State of Origin series was associated with fewer ED presentations on game 10s. We believe these results have broader implications for workforce planning and resource allocation.

Addressing the hiatus of learning incentives for prevocational doctors: continuing medical education points for interns.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the development and uptake of a new self-directed learning program for interns, and to evaluate interns' attitudes towards the program. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Using design-based research methodologies, a facility education program was developed to provide flexible learning options, complement the situated learning that occurs at the bedside and foster the development of self-directed and self-regulated learning behaviour. From 2008 to 2010, interns at a large regional Australian hospital (Townsville Hospital) were required to accrue a minimum 100 continuing medical education (CME) points. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean number of CME points accrued per intern and attitudes of interns towards the CME points system. RESULTS: A total of 30, 39 and 59 interns participated in the program during 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The mean number of points accrued by interns increased from 114 points (range, 60-168; median, 113) in 2008 to 132 points (range, 85-298; median, 127) in 2010. There was a corresponding decrease in failure to accrue 100 points, from 20% of interns (6/30) in 2008 to 8% of interns (5/59) in 2010. Evaluations showed that the majority of interns (surveyed at the end of 2009 [n = 22] and 2010 [n = 46]) liked the flexible learning options of the CME points system, and also felt that the professional development helped them gain better knowledge and skills and develop as a clinician. However, about half of them felt pressured to accrue points. CONCLUSIONS: A CME points system is acceptable to and used by interns. This system has the flexibility to be expanded to other junior doctor years and implemented in all Australian facilities to ensure that self-directed and self-regulated learning occurs across the entire prevocational continuum.

Fast versus slow bandaid removal: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether slow or fast bandaid removal is less painful. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective, randomised, crossover trial was carried out at James Cook University, Townsville. Participants were healthy volunteers from Years 2 and 3 of the James Cook University medical school program. INTERVENTIONS: Medium-sized bandaids were applied bilaterally in three standard body locations and removed using slow and fast techniques. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain scores were assessed using an 11-point verbal numeric pain scale. RESULTS: 65 participants were included in the study. The overall mean pain score for fast bandaid removal was 0.92 and for slow bandaid removal was 1.58. This represents a highly significant difference of 0.66 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In young healthy volunteers, fast bandaid removal caused less pain than slow bandaid removal.

Cannabis and driving: a new perspective.

Cannabis and driving is an emerging injury-prevention concern. The incidence of driving while affected by cannabis is rising in parallel with increased cannabis use in the community. Younger drivers are at particular risk. Improvements in research methodology, technology and laboratory testing methods have occurred in the last 10 years. These cast doubt on earlier results and conclusions. Studies now show that cannabis has a significant impairing effect on driving when used alone and that this effect is exaggerated when combined with alcohol. Of particular concern is the presence of cannabis as the sole psychoactive drug in an increasing number of road fatalities and the lack of any structural response to this problem. A review of testing methods, laboratory and real driving studies, and recent epidemiological studies is presented. Suggestions for methods of further data collection and future public policy are made.