An exploratory study of the experiences of emergency medical care (EMC) students transitioning through the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic coalesced into increased mental health problems, particularly anxiety, stress, and depression for university students. Students from the emergency medical care (EMC) department encountered these difficulties, more intensely, particularly those in WIL or clinical placements, as they worked at the interface of illness, trauma, and grief during the pandemic. While empirical research has burgeoned in relation to healthcare practitioners within this context, little exists on EMC students at South African higher education institutions (HEIs), within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study aimed to explore the academic and psychosocial challenges experienced by EMC students, as they transitioned through the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown during 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative approach with an exploratory descriptive design was used to guide the study. A sample of students from all levels of the EMC Department in the Faculty of Health Sciences was recruited. This was done using non-probability sampling techniques, which includes purposive sampling. Data saturation was reached after interviewing 15 participants using a virtual platform. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Our results revealed five broad themes and six subthemes which reflected the psychosocial experiences that EMC students faced. The themes and (subthemes) included encountering COVID-19 during WIL or clinical, infection or loss of loved ones, psychological effects of living and working at the interface of COVID-19 (negative emotional toll of the pandemic, misinformation, isolation and social disconnectedness, and sense of responsibility/duty to work) and disruption to academic life (online learning challenges and challenges related to clinical training experiences) and financial impact of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that there is a critical need for HEIs to develop strategies that ensure EMC students' well-being amidst their academic journey within the context of the pandemic. This study will therefore assist EMC departments at higher education institutions to formulate strategies in relation to the pandemic.

Health status and health-care utilization among men recently released from a superjail: a matched prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Continuity of care and access to primary care have been identified as important contributors to improved health outcomes and reduced reincarceration among people who are justice-involved. While the disproportionate burden of health concerns among incarcerated populations is well documented, less is known about their health service utilization, limiting the potential for effective improvements to current policy and practice. This study aims to examine health status and health care utilization among men recently released from a superjail in a large metropolitan area to better understand patterns of use, risk factors and facilitators. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Participants included adult men (n = 106) matched to a general population group (n = 530) in Ontario, Canada, linked to medical records (88.5% linkage) to examine baseline health status and health utilization three-months post-release. The authors compared differences between the groups in baseline health conditions and estimated the risk of emergency department, primary care, inpatient hospitalization and specialist ambulatory care visits. FINDINGS: Superjail participants had a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory conditions, mental illness, substance use and injuries. Substance use was a significant risk factor for all types of visits and emergency department visits were over three times higher among superjail participants. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This empirical case is illustrative of an emerging phenomenon in some regions of the world where emergency departments serve as de facto "walk-in clinics" for those with criminal justice involvement. Strategic approaches to health services are required to meet the complex social and health needs and disparities in access to care experienced by men released from custody.

The Working Relationship Between Emergency Room Nurses and Medical Rape Victim Advocates: A Qualitative Examination of Nurses' Perceptions of the Influence of Nurse Training and Experience on Nurse-Advocate Interactions.

Nurses and medical advocates respond to sexual assault survivors seeking hospital services. Ideally, both providers work collaboratively. However, this does not always happen. Extant research on the nurse-advocate relationship focuses on Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs). This study examines how ER nurses perceive their training and experience influence the working relationships between emergency room (ER) nurses (not exclusively SANEs) and medical advocates. Key findings indicate nurses perceive increased training improves (a) role understanding, (b) trust, (c) respect, (d) rapport, and (e) appreciation. Less training was associated with poorer role understanding and trust.

Leveling the Battlefield: Development of a Pre-Deployment Vascular Access Curriculum for the Nonsurgical Provider.

INTRODUCTION: Timely vascular access is critical, as hemorrhage is the number one cause of death on the battlefield. Anecdotal evidence in the Military Health System identified an operationally relevant procedural skills gap in vascular access, and data exist in civilian literature showing high rates of iatrogenic injuries when lack of robust procedural opportunity exists. Multiple pre-deployment training courses are available for surgical providers, but no comprehensive pre-deployment vascular access training exists for non-surgical providers. METHODS: This mixed-method review aimed to find relevant, operationally focused, vascular access training publications. A literature review was done to identify both relevant military clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and full text articles. Reviewers also investigated available pre-deployment trainings for both surgeons and non-surgeons in which course administrators were contacted and details regarding the courses were described. RESULTS: We identified seven full-text articles and four CPGs. Two existing surgical training programs and Army, Navy, and Air Force pre-deployment training standards for non-surgeons were evaluated. CONCLUSION: A cost-effective and accessible pre-deployment curriculum utilizing reviewed literature in a "learn, do, perfect" structure is suggested, building on pre-existing structures while incorporating remotely accessible didactics, hands-on practice with portable simulation models, and live-feedback training.

Diagnostic Errors in Japanese Community Hospitals and Related Factors: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Diagnostic error has recently become a crucial clinical problem and an area of intense research. However, the reality of diagnostic errors in regional hospitals remains unknown. This study aimed to clarify the reality of diagnostic errors in regional hospitals in Japan. A 10-month retrospective cohort study was conducted from January to October 2021 at the emergency room of Oda Municipal Hospital in central Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Participants were divided into groups with or without diagnostic errors, and independent variables of patient, physician, and environmental factors were analyzed using Fisher's exact test, univariate (Student's t-test and Welch's t-test), and logistic regression analyses. Diagnostic errors accounted for 13.1% of all eligible cases. Remarkably, the proportion of patients treated without oxygen support and the proportion of male patients were significantly higher in the group with diagnostic errors. Sex bias was present. Additionally, cognitive bias, a major factor in diagnostic errors, may have occurred in patients who did not require oxygen support. Numerous factors contribute to diagnostic errors; however, it is important to understand the trends in the setting of each healthcare facility and plan and implement individualized countermeasures.

A Study on Points of Respiratory Assist Devices Using in Pre-Hospital Care Respiratory Assist Devices in Pre-Hospital Care.

BACKGROUND: In Japan, increasing the number of ambulance requests, the case with the use of respiratory assistance devices in prehospital care by paramedics is also increasing1. When patient experiences respiratory failure, the first responders frequently select a respiratory assist device (RAD) such as Bag Valve Mask (BVM), Jackson Rees (JR), or BVM with Gas Supply Valve® (BVM+GSV). This is based on both evaluation and experience as there is no study indicating which RAD is the best choice at the pre-hospital emergency site. This study clarified the precautions when using BVM, JR, and BVM+GSV in pre-hospital emergency medical care with healthy volunteers. METHODS: Twenty healthy adults were fitted with a RAD while breathing spontaneously, and changes in vital signs and ETCO2 were observed. RESULTS: The level of ETCO2 became elevated after each RAD was attached. The value was significantly higher in the JR group than in the others. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that even in the presence of spontaneous breathing, ETCO2 increased markedly with the application of respiratory assist devices that are used in pre-hospital care for conditions such as hypoxemia and ventilatory disturbance. The increase in ETCO2 was particularly significant in the JR group, suggesting the need for caution when selecting JRs for pre-hospital care. As the number of subjects was only 20 for each RAD, studies with a larger sample size are needed.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the mortality of patients who received emergency transportation: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Aim: The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a widespread impact on emergency medical care systems. However, its effects on the mortality of emergency transportation patients are unclear. This population-based, cross-sectional study investigated how COVID-19 impacted the mortality and outcomes of emergency transportation patients. Methods: We compared mortality in the emergency department and at day 21 after an emergency visit for patients transported by ambulance to medical facilities in the Osaka Prefecture, Japan, between January 29 and December 31, 2020 (first pandemic year) and between January 29 and December 31, 2019 (immediate pre-pandemic year; 804,718 patients in total), using multivariable analysis to adjust for potential confounders. Results: During the first pandemic year, 50,446 fewer patients received emergency transportation compared with the immediate prepandemic year. Emergency department deaths increased by 603 during the first pandemic year (4,922 versus 4,319 deaths) and 640 within 21 days (14,569 versus 13,929 deaths). Multivariable analysis revealed an association between the first pandemic year and increased mortality rates among patients given emergency transportation compared with the immediate prepandemic year (odds ratio for emergency department deaths 1.31; 95% confidence interval 1.26-1.38; odds ratio for deaths within 21 days 1.17; 95% confidence interval 1.14-1.20). Conclusions: The study results indicate that the spread of COVID-19 impacted the mortality of patients who received emergency transportation. Further studies are expected to clarify the impact of COVID-19 on emergency medical care systems.

Can drones save lives and money? An economic evaluation of airborne delivery of automated external defibrillators.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the most frequent causes of death in Europe. Emergency medical services often struggle to reach the patient in time, particularly in rural areas. To improve outcome, early defibrillation is required which significantly increases neurologically intact survival. Consequently, many countries place Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in accessible public locations. However, these stationary devices are frequently not available out of hours or too far away in emergencies. An innovative approach to mustering AED is the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which deliver the device to the scene. METHODS: This paper evaluates the economic implications of stationary AED versus airborne delivery using scenario-based cost analysis. As an example, we focus on the rural district of Vorpommern-Greifswald in Germany. Formulae are developed to calculate the cost of stationary and airborne AED networks. Scenarios include different catchment areas, delivery times and unit costs. RESULTS: UAS-based delivery of AEDs is more cost-efficient than maintaining traditional stationary networks. The results show that equipping cardiac arrest hot spots in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald with airborne AEDs with a response time < 4 min is an effective method to decrease the time to the first defibrillation The district of Vorpommern-Greifswald would require 45 airborne AEDs resulting in annual costs of at least 1,451,160 €. CONCLUSION: In rural areas, implementing an UAS-based AED system is both more effective and cost-efficient than the conventional stationary solution. When regarding urban areas and hot spots of OHCA, complementing the airborne network with stationary AEDs is advisable.

DO THE GUIDELINES GUIDE THE BELGRADE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PHYSICIANS THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE ST-ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION?

The aim of the study was to assess whether current guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in daily clinical practice are adequately applied in the Belgrade Emergency Medical Service (EMS). A retrospective research included 2,982 STEMI patients who were cared for by EMS teams. Therapy consisting of morphine, oxygen, nitroglycerin and aspirin (MONA) was applied. Dual antiaggregation therapy (aspirin 325 mg + ticagrelor 180 mg or clopidogrel 600 mg) was administered to patients with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) indicated. With electrocardiographic monitoring included, the patients were transported directly to PCI unit with announcement of the arrival. Response times I-V were measured. There was an increasing trend in the number of STEMI patients. A rapid increase in the use of dual antiaggregation therapy (MONA and clopidogrel or MONA and ticagrelor) was reported from year to year, as well as a dramatic increase in the use of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel. The time from receiving the call to the arrival on the scene was 13.72 minutes, and the time from receiving the call to hospital arrival was 52.83 minutes. Our physicians care for STEMI patients in accordance with the current international and local recommendations.

Perspective: the top 11 priorities to improve trauma outcomes, from system to patient level.

BACKGROUND: The Haemorrhage, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure/Environmental control approach to individual patient management in trauma is well established and embedded in numerous training courses worldwide. Further improvements in trauma outcomes are likely to result from a combination of system-level interventions in prevention and quality improvement, and from a sophisticated approach to clinical innovation. TOP ELEVEN TRAUMA PRIORITIES: Based on a narrative review of remaining preventable mortality and morbidity in trauma, the top eleven priorities for those working throughout the spectrum of trauma care, from policy-makers to clinicians, should be: (1) investment in effective trauma prevention (likely to be the most cost-effective intervention); (2) prioritisation of resources, quality improvement and innovation in prehospital care (where the most preventable mortality remains); (3) building a high-performance trauma team; (4) applying evidence-based clinical interventions that stop bleeding, open & protect the airway, and optimise breathing most effectively; (5) maintaining enough circulating blood volume and ensuring adequate cardiac function; (6) recognising the role of the intensive care unit in modern damage control surgery; (7) prioritising good intensive care unit intercurrent care, especially prophylaxis for thromboembolic disease; (8) conducting a thorough tertiary survey, noting that on average the intensive care unit is where approximately 15% of injuries are detected; (9) facilitating early extubation; (10) investing in formal quantitative and qualitative quality assurance and improvement; and (11) improving clinical trial design. CONCLUSION: Dramatic reductions in population trauma mortality and injury case fatality rate over recent decades have demonstrated the value of a comprehensive approach to trauma quality and process improvement. Continued attention to these principles, targeting areas with highest remaining preventable mortality while also prioritising functional outcomes, should remain the focus of both clinician and policy-makers.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the city of Cape Town metropole of the Western Cape province of South Africa: a spatio-temporal analysis.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is expected to increase in sub-Saharan Africa along with the incidence of cardiovascular disease. In low-resource settings (LRS), OHCA carries a negligible survival rate. Interventions to improve OHCA survival might not be cost effective for many LRS, and therefore need to be targeted to areas of high incidence. The aim of this study was to describe the temporal and geographic distribution of OHCA in the City of Cape Town, South Africa, and their proximity to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) resources. METHODS: In this retrospective study, OHCA data between 1 January and 31 December 2018 were extracted from public and one private emergency medical services in the Western Cape. For temporal analysis, distribution of OHCA according to time of day, day of the week and month of the year were subjected to chi-squared testing. For geospatial analysis, cluster and outlier, and hotspot analyses were performed. Proximity analysis was employed to determine the driving time from OHCA location to the closest PCI-capable facility. RESULTS: A total of 929 patients with OHCA received an emergency medical services response in the City of Cape Town, corresponding to an annual prevalence of 23.2 per 100 000 persons. The distribution of OHCA incidence was not explained by month of the year (p = 0.08) or day of the week (p = 0.67). A statistically significant variation in OHCA incidence was explained by time of day (p < 0.01) with 30% (n = 279) of all OHCAs occurring from 05:00 to 09:59. Geospatial analysis yielded a large area of hotspots (99% confidence interval) over the centre of the metropole, Cape Flats and southern suburbs. The median (interquartile range) driving time from the incident to the closest PCI-capable facility was 10:22 (08:05) minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Incidents of OHCA occurred predominantly at home during the mid-morning, with hotspots around the city centre and residential suburbs of Cape Town. While the incidents occurred close to PCI-capable facilities, some areas remained underserved and access to PCI for OHCA victims may be impossible due to socio-economic factors. With an increase in OHCA incidence expected, it is essential that contextual, cost-effective management interventions be developed and implemented.

Work in stressful conditions in medical emergency system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic caused a change in the way of providing healthcare services, limiting direct access to doctors, suspending planned treatments and medical consultations, but despite the risks and restrictions, the medical rescue system as a key element of health care for the society continues to function. The system provides medical assistance to patients in the most severe condition, both with a negative result for SARS-CoV-2, as well as with a positive or undiagnosed result. It is a review aimed at analyzing the most important psychological aspects of the work of emergency medical care system personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar search were used to analyze the problem. The following keywords were used to search for information sources: paramedic, work, emergency medical care system, emergency department, ambulance service, COVID-19, pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus. The articles were selected in terms of the psychological aspects of the work of the emergency medical care system personnel during the pandemic in 2020-2021. The psychosocial problems that come to the fore during a pandemic include increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, emotional exhaustion, vicarious traumatization, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the context of the increased risk of psychological problems due to pandemic, it is necessary to provide psychological support to the medical staff, both in terms of psychological support for the entire team and individually. Med Pr. 2022;73(3):241-50.

Atribuições do enfermeiro no manejo do marcapasso transcutâneo em pacientes idosos: Uma revisão integrativa / Asignaciones del enfermero em el manejo del marcapasos transcutáneo en anciano: Una revisión integrativa / Nurse attributions in the handling of transcutaneous pacemaker in elderly patients: Integrative review

Objetivo: investigar a produção científica nacional e internacional sobre as ações e cuidados do enfermeiro no manejo do marca-passo transcutâneo em idosos. Método: revisão integrativa, realizada nas bases de dados "Scopus", "Web of Science", "EMBASE", "PUBMED", "MEDLINE", no período de 2012 a 2022. Resultados: foram selecionados oito artigos, todos internacionais, somente um conduzido por enfermeiros. Categorizados por: (1) Possibilidades e limitações no uso do marca-passo trânscutâneo na prática clínica; (2) Cuidados de enfermagem na utilização do marca-passo transcutâneo em idosos e (3) Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem e a abordagem ao paciente em uso de marca-passo transcutâneo. Conclusão: os principais cuidados de enfermagem ao idoso que utiliza o marca-passo transcutâneo são: prevenção de queimaduras cutâneas; administração de medicamentos; manejo da dor; monitoramento dos dados vitais; avaliação da captura mecânica; investigação do histórico familiar; medicações em uso; realização do exame físico e acesso venoso periférico.(AU)

Objective: : to investigate the national and international scientific production regarding the actions and handling of the transcutaneous pacemaker in elderly. Method: integrative review, made in the databases Scopus", "Web of Science", "EMBASE", "PUBMED", and "MEDLINE", for the period 2012 to 2022. Findings: there were selected eight articles, all international, and only one conducted by nurses. Categorized into: (1) Possibilities and limitations of the use from the transcutaneous pacemaker in clinical practice; (2) Nursing care when utilizing transcutaneous pacemaker in elderly and (3) Systematization of Nursing Care and approach to patients using transcutaneous pacemaker. Conclusion: the main Nursing Care approaches to elderly who use transcutaneous pacemaker are prevent skin burn; drug administration; pain management; monitoring vital signs; evaluation of heart activity; investigating family history and drugs in use; performing physical examination and peripheral venous access.(AU)

Objetivo: investigar cual és lá produccion científica nacional e internacional sobre Las acciones y cuidados del enfermero en el manejo del marca-pado intracutaneo en ancianos. Método: Revision Integrativa realizada en Las bases de datos "Scopus" web of Science", EMBASE", "PUBMED", "MEDLINE", durante el período 2012 a 2022. Resultados: fueron Seleccionados ocho articulos todos internacionales, solanemente uno fue llevado a cabo por enfermeros. Categorizado por (1) posibilidades y limitaciones en El uso del marca-paso intracutaneo en lá práctica clínica; (2) cuidados de enfermeria en lá utilização del marca-paso intracutaneo y (3) sistematizacion de la assistencia de enfermeria y el abordaje del paciente que usa marca-paso intracutaneo. Conclusion: Los principales cuidados de enfermeria Al anciano que utiliza marca-paso intracutaneo son: prevencion de quemaduras cutaneas; administracion de medicamentos, manejo del dolor, monitorizacion de datos vitales, evaluacion de lá captura mecanica, investigação del histórico famíliar, medicaciones en uso, realizacion de examen fisico y acceso venoso periférico.(AU)

[Digital systems to support emergency medical service : A Germany-wide cross-sectional survey on current availability, utilization and existing challenges]. / Digitale Systeme zur Unterstützung von präklinischen Notfalleinsätzen : Deutschlandweite Querschnittserhebung zu Verfügbarkeit, Nutzung und bestehenden Herausforderungen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Increasing requirements for documentation, cross-sectoral communication and quality management are leading to increased organizational effort in emergency medical services (EMS). On the one hand, the use of digital information systems in prehospital settings can help to support emergency physicians and paramedics in these tasks and on the other hand, it opens new treatment options such as telemedical care for patients. This work attempts to provide a comprehensive picture of the current use of digital systems for ambulance services in Germany. To do so, the study investigated how widespread various information and communication systems currently are at local EMS stations and ambulances, how they are used by emergency personnel, how they are assessed by users and what challenges currently exist for further expansion and greater acceptance of the users. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted as a nationwide, exploratory online survey among emergency physicians and paramedic professionals in July and August 2020 covering 24 different questions. Participation was called for on the Internet, at EMS stations and in hospital emergency departments. Subsequent data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical methods. Solutions considered included digital documentation and hospital prenotification, interdisciplinary care capacity notification, real-time telehealth services and digital radio units. RESULTS: In total, 821 responses of participants from 481 different EMS stations from 382 cities nationwide were included in the evaluation. The availability of the 16 systems surveyed varies significantly throughout Germany, depending on the federal state and application. While basic equipment such as radio units or navigation devices are available on almost all surveyed ambulances, the share which has real-time telehealth applications at their disposal is just 6%. A proportion of 72% reported the usage of any type of digital documentation and 41% used a digital tool for prenotification of emergency rooms in at least one hospital. The emergency staff surveyed were generally open to new technologies and resulting possibilities, such as having an electronic patient care record or transmitting patient data digitally to emergency room. Almost all participants see a benefit in the use of information technology in ambulance service, although slightly more than half considered current implementation as unsatisfactory. Challenges are particularly evident with regard to reliability, hardware, useability and interoperability with third parties, such as dispatch centres and hospitals. CONCLUSION: Although information technology systems in German EMS are no longer in their infancy, there is still a long way to go before prehospital emergency care can be considered as extensively and adequately digitalized. A more holistic perspective and networked implementation of all systems and processes involved in emergency response operations can help improve and further spread digital solutions for prehospital emergency care. Incorporating field experience into the development process could contribute to increasing functionality and user acceptance.

Association between emergency department pediatric readiness and transfer of noninjured children in small rural hospitals.

PURPOSE: Pediatric readiness scores may be a useful measure of a hospital's preparedness to care for children. However, there is limited evidence linking these scores with patient outcomes or other metrics, including the need for interfacility transfer. This study aims to determine the association of pediatric readiness scores with the odds of interfacility transfer among a cohort of noninjured children (< 18 years old) presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in small rural hospitals in the state of California. METHODS: Data from the National Pediatric Readiness Project assessment were linked with the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development's ED and inpatient databases to conduct a cross-sectional study of pediatric interfacility transfers. Hospitals were manually matched between these data sets. Logistic regression was performed with random intercepts for hospital and adjustment for patient-level confounders. FINDINGS: A total of 54 hospitals and 135,388 encounters met the inclusion criteria. EDs with a high pediatric readiness score (>70) had lower adjusted odds of transfer (aOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.93) than EDs with a low pediatric readiness score (≤ 70). The pediatric readiness section with strongest association with transfer was the "policies, procedures, and protocols" section; EDs in the highest quartile had lower odds of transfer than EDs in the lowest quartile (aOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients presenting to EDs at small rural hospitals with high pediatric readiness scores may be less likely to be transferred. Additional studies are recommended to investigate other pediatric outcomes in relation to hospital ED pediatric readiness.

Present and Future Status of Cardiovascular Emergency Care System in Urban Areas of Japan　- Importance of Prehospital 12-Lead Electrocardiogram.

Acute cardiovascular disease, such as acute myocardial infarction and aortic disease, can lead to a serious life-threatening state within minutes to hours, so early accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment without delay are essential. To provide high-quality and timely treatment, 24-h availability of medical staff and cardiologists, as well as a cardiac catheterization laboratory are needed. In Japan, the number of patients with acute cardiovascular disease is increasing with the aging population and westernization of lifestyle; however, workstyle reforms for physicians, including a policy to limit overtime work, have been legislated. Under these conditions, it is necessary to centralize hospitals that treat cardiovascular emergency diseases as high-volume centers and build a patient triage system for allocating patients before hospital arrival. The prehospital 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) plays a central role in prehospital diagnosis and triage, and its importance will increase in future. We discuss the current and future state of the cardiovascular emergency medical care system utilizing prehospital 12-lead ECG in urban areas of Japan.

Influencing factors associated with delayed time in pre-hospital emergency medical care for hypertensive emergency in the main urban area of Chongqing / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo investigate the influencing factors associated with delayed time in pre-hospital emergency medical care in patients with hypertensive emergency in the main urban area of Chongqing. MethodsA total of 1 246 patients with hypertension in the main urban area of Chongqing from March 2018 to August 2021 were included in this study. The delayed time in the pre-hospital emergency medical care was determined. A multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors. ResultsThe delayed time in the pre-hospital emergency medical care for the patients with hypertensive emergency was concentrated in 0‒12 h， with the average of （5.89±1.96） h. The delayed time differed significantly by gender， age， history of atrial fibrillation， diabetes， educational level， time of onset， mode of transportation， awareness of hypertensive emergency， blood pressure at the onset， and presence of persons at the onset of emergency （P<0.05）. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that educational level， time of onset， blood pressure at the onset， awareness of hypertensive emergency， presence of persons at the onset were linearly correlated with delayed time in the pre-hospital medical care for hypertensive emergencies （P<0.05）. ConclusionDelay in pre-hospital medical care is prevalent for patients with hypertensive emergency in the main urban area of Chongqing. The delayed time is associated with multiple factors， such as educational level， time of onset， blood pressure at onset， awareness of hypertensive emergency， and presence of persons at onset. It warrants further improvement in the interventions to reduce the delay in the pre-hospital medical care.

[The morbidity of medical personnel of mobile teams of emergency medical care].

The medical personnel of mobile teams of emergency medical care are exposed to factors of working environment that affect health state and results in development of occupational diseases. The purpose of study is to analyze morbidity of medical personnel of mobile teams of emergency medical care according data of temporary disability and results of medical check-ups. The analysis was made according information from certificates of incapacity for work and the final acts of periodic medical examinations for five-year period. The study established significant increase of rate and duration of primary and general morbidity with increase of age and length of service of workers, higher susceptibility to diseases of physicians as compared with paramedics and employees of pediatric teams and specialists of other clinical profiles. In the structure of morbidity according to results of medical examinations, diseases of the eye and its accessory apparatus, the circulatory system and the musculo-skeletal system prevailed.

Paramedic students' confidence and satisfaction with clinical simulations of an emergency medical care programme in South Africa: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in the use of clinical simulations as instructional tools in healthcare education. This is because of their role in ensuring patients' safety and quality-care provision. AIM: This study investigated the paramedic students' satisfaction and self-confidence in the clinical simulation of an emergency medical care programme. SETTING: The study was conducted at the Durban University of Technology in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The paramedic students' satisfaction and self-confidence in the clinical simulation of an emergency medical care programme were the focus of the study. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional research design. A convenience sampling method was used to select the 83-paramedic students who participated in the study. Data were collected between July and September 2017 using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages and Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient) and an inferential test, ordinal logistic regression analysis, were used for data analysis. RESULTS: High levels of paramedic students' satisfaction and self-confidence in simulation activities were reported. Generally, the paramedic students' demographics were associated with the satisfaction and self-confidence variables with p-values ≤ 0.04. Emergency medical care training undertaken by the paramedic students was significantly associated with self-confidence (p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Clinical simulation can bridge the theory-practice gap for paramedic students. It is a hands-on approach that promotes students learning of clinical skills through reflection.

Optimization for Locating Emergency Medical Service Facilities: A Case Study for Health Planning from China.

PURPOSE: Rational location of emergency medical service (EMS) facilities could improve access to EMS, and thus assist in saving patients' lives and improving their health outcomes. A considerable amount of spatial optimization research has been devoted to the development of models to support location planning in the context of EMS, with extensive applications in policy making around the world. However, in China, studies on the location of EMS facilities have not been paid enough attention to, let alone their practical applications. This paper conducted location optimization for EMS facilities in Chengdu, one of the biggest cities in southwest China with more than 16.5 million population, aiming to optimize the EMS system by adding (upgrading) a minimum number of EMS facilities to achieve a given population coverage. METHODS: Location optimization was conducted according to regional health policy goal for the EMS system in Chengdu, China, 2017. The nearest-neighbor approach was used to calculate the shortest travel time based on geographical information system (GIS). The location set covering model was used to formulate the optimization problem under China's context, and genetic algorithm (GA) was employed to determine the optimized locations. RESULTS: The results showed that a minimum number of 55 new facilities were required to upgrade to EMS facilities to achieve the policy goal of 90% population coverage of EMS within 15 minutes. Access to EMS also improved substantially in terms of shortest travel time after facility upgrading. The weighted median shortest travel time to EMS facilities in Chengdu decreased by 14.57%, from 6.45 minutes to 5.51 minutes. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the solution could effectively achieve the policy goal of population coverage with a minimum number of new EMS facilities. Our findings would support evidence-based decision-making in future EMS planning in China.