Exploring barriers and enablers to simulation-based training in emergency departments: an international qualitative study (BEST-ED Study).

INTRODUCTION: Simulation-based training (SBT) has gained significant traction within emergency medicine. The growing body of evidence describes the benefits that SBT can bring. However, identifying barriers and enablers when establishing successful SBT programmes in busy emergency departments (EDs), and ensuring longevity of such programmes, can be difficult. OBJECTIVE: We aim to identify barriers and enablers to SBT in busy EDs. METHODS: We explored and analysed the thoughts, experience and opinions of professionals involved in SBT and organisational support. 32 participants across 15 international sites were invited to a semistructured interview process. We included participants from a variety of backgrounds, from clinical staff to management staff. Transcribed interview data was classified and coded based on capability, opportunity and motivation behaviour (COM-B) domains and analysed based on theoretical domains framework. Frequency of the most mentioned thematic domain among participants is reported. RESULTS: The interview data revealed several common themes, including the following: knowledge and skills (90%), support and leadership (96%), mental barriers (87.5%), local culture (96.6%), dedicated space (65.2%), time constraints (46.8%), social influence (87.5%), education (90.6%), professional development (68.75%), exams (59.3%) and personal goals (93.75%). Management staff was observed to prioritise resource, staffing and flow, while the clinical cohort tended to focus on specialty and personal development when it came to simulation training in the ED. CONCLUSION: Potential barriers and enablers to SBT and in situ simulation for EDs were identified through interviews conducted in this study. The central themes in terms of barriers and enablers were local culture, leadership, individual needs, resources and optimisation. A tailored approach is vital for establishing a successful SBT and in situ simulation programme.

No rest for the weary: a cross-sectional study comparing patients' sleep in the emergency department to those on the ward.

BACKGROUND: Boarding in emergency departments (EDs) is a persistent problem worldwide. We hypothesised that patients sleeping while being boarded in EDs have worse self-rated sleep than those admitted from EDs who sleep on the ward. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the University College Hospital, Galway between October and November 2016. Self-rated sleep in patients boarded in EDs from 23:00 to 07:00 was compared with those admitted to the ward before 23:00. Patients rated their sleep using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. Patients were excluded if they had cognitive impairment, were unable or incapacitated or had evidence of alcohol or drug use in the previous 24 hours. Continuous data are shown as medians (IQRs 25th-75th percentiles). Linear regression models of log-transformed outcome variables were performed. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients were included and 22 were excluded. Patients who boarded in the ED were significantly more likely to be medical patients (78% vs 21%, p<0.001), to be older (median age (IQR)=60 (39-71) vs 47 (32-68), p=0.04) and have more urgent presentations (74% vs 48% presenting as Manchester triage category 1 or 2, p=0.01) than patients who sleep on a ward. Patients who slept on the ward had significantly better sleep scores (mean log-transformed sleep scores (SD)=2.92 (1.05) vs 3.72 (0.66), p<0.001)). Those sleeping in the ED reported greater noisiness than those sleeping on the ward (mean log-transformed noisiness scores (SD)=3.18 (1.10) vs 4.15 (0.57), p<0.001). These significant differences in sleep scores and noisiness ratings persisted after adjustment for age, triage category and admitting service. CONCLUSION: We found those who sleep boarded in EDs have worse self-rated sleep than those who sleep on the ward.

Inhaled methoxyflurane for the reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocation in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: Methoxyflurane is an inhalation analgesic used in the emergency department (ED) but also has minimal sedative properties. The major aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate of methoxyflurane for acute anterior shoulder dislocation (ASD) reduction. The secondary aim was to assess the impact of methoxyflurane on ED patient flow compared to propofol. METHODS: A health record review was performed for all patients presenting with ASD who underwent reduction with either methoxyflurane or propofol over a 13-month period (December 2016 - December 2017). The primary outcome was reduction success for methoxyflurane, while secondary outcomes such as recovery time and ED length of stay (LOS) were also assessed compared to propofol. Patients with fracture dislocations, polytrauma, intravenous, or intramuscular opioids in the pre-hospital setting, no sedation for reduction, and alternative techniques of sedation or analgesia for reduction were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients presented with ASD during the study period. Eighty-two patients fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Fifty-two patients had ASD reduction with propofol while 30 patients had methoxyflurane. Successful reduction was achieved in 80% (95% CI 65.69% to 94.31%) patients who used methoxyflurane. The median recovery time and ED LOS were 30 minutes [19.3-44] and 70.5 minutes [49.3-105], which was found to be shorter for the methoxyflurane group, who had successful reductions compared to sedation with propofol. CONCLUSION: Methoxyflurane was used successfully in 30% of the 82 patients undergoing reduction for ASD, while potentially improving ED efficiency.

OBJECTIFS: Le méthoxyflurane en inhalation est un analgésique utilisé au service des urgences (SU), qui a de très faibles propriétés sédatives. L'étude avait pour objectif principal d'évaluer le taux de réussite de la réduction des luxations antérieures de l'épaule (LAE), en phase aiguë, au SU, à l'aide du méthoxyflurane et, pour objectif secondaire, d'évaluer l'effet du méthoxyflurane sur le flux des patients au SU, comparativement à celui du propofol. MÉTHODE: Il y a eu un examen des dossiers médicaux de tous les patients qui ont subi une réduction d'une LAE à l'aide du méthoxyflurane ou du propofol sur une période de 13 mois (décembre 2016 ­ décembre 2017). Le principal critère d'évaluation consistait en la détermination du taux de réussite des réductions réalisées à l'aide du méthoxyflurane, et les critères d'évaluation secondaires, en la comparaison de mesures comme le temps de rétablissement et la durée du séjour (DS) au SU, entre le méthoxyflurane et le propofol. Étaient exclus de l'étude les cas de fracture avec luxation de l'épaule, de polytrauma, d'administration intraveineuse ou intramusculaire d'opioïdes en phase préhospitalière, de réduction sans sédation d'une LAE ou de recours à d'autres techniques de sédation ou d'analgésie en vue de la réduction d'une LAE. RÉSULTATS: Au total, 151 patients ont été examinés au SU pour une LAE durant la période d'étude et, sur ce nombre, 82 satisfaisaient aux critères de sélection. Dans l'ensemble, 52 patients ont été traités par le propofol contre 30, par le méthoxyflurane pour la réduction d'une LAE. Le taux de réussite des réductions a atteint 80% (IC à 95% : 65,69% ­ 94,31%) chez les blessés traités par le méthoxyflurane. Les valeurs médianes du temps de rétablissement et de la DS au SU étaient de 30 minutes [19,3­44] et de 70,5 minutes [49,3-105], ce qui représente des valeurs plus faibles dans le groupe de traitement par le méthoxyflurane, dans les cas de réussite, que dans le groupe de sédation par le propofol. CONCLUSION: Le méthoxyflurane a atteint un taux de réussite de 30% chez les 82 patients qui ont subi une réduction d'une LAE et pourrait, de ce fait, accroître l'efficacité au SU.

Alcohol-related presentations to emergency departments in Ireland: a descriptive prevalence study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of alcohol-related presentations in all 29 emergency departments (EDs) in Ireland and compare with non-alcohol-related presentations in order to identify opportunities for improvements in the quality of patient care and related data collection. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive prevalence study reviewing all records in the same four 6-hour periods in every 24-hour ED in the country. PARTICIPANTS: 3194 persons who attended EDs over four specified 6-hour periods. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of alcohol-related presentations, comparison with non-alcohol-related presentations and the categorisation of these presentations according to WHO International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes. RESULTS: The total number of presentations was 3194 in the four 6-hour periods, of whom 189 (5.9%) were alcohol related, varying from 29.0% in the early hours of Sunday morning to 1.2% on Monday morning (p>0.0001). The alcohol-related presentations were more likely to be men, attend on early hours of Sunday morning, arrive by ambulance, leave before being seen by a doctor or leave against medical advice; and they were less likely to be admitted to hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-related presentations are a significant burden on EDs and ambulance services, especially in the early hours of Sunday mornings. Addressing the alcohol-related burden on EDs requires improvements in data collection and information systems, the development of appropriate interventions and related referral services and better preventive actions for alcohol-related harm.

Needlestick and infection with horse vaccine.

This report describes a case of accidental needlestick injury involving a live equine vaccination, Equilis StrepE. A vet presented herself to the Emergency Department having accidentally injected herself with an equine vaccination. Her left thumb (injury site) was inflamed and had lymphangitis progressing proximally along her left arm. Her inflammatory markers were not raised. The swelling, erythma and lymphangitis had improved markedly with intravenous antibiotics. She had no sequelae at follow-up. Equilis StrepE is a vaccine for submucosal administration containing a modified live avirulent strain of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (Strain TW). Group C streptococci infections are pathogenic in horses and uncommon in humans. A search of the literature revealed no prior case report of similar adverse reaction to this vaccine. The vaccine may have harmful effect on human health, if injected accidentally but more evidence needs to be collected.

Long term outcomes 12 years after major trauma.

AIM: To provide long term population-based follow up on major trauma patients 12 years after injury. METHODS: This cohort study was based on a stratified random sample of patients with an injury severity score greater than 15 who reached hospital alive in 1990-1991. The patient details were used to trace them and to assess the patients' recovery, using endpoints of current employment status and any current physical or mental health problems. A Glasgow outcome score was allocated on the basis of these replies. RESULTS: Of 239 patients included in the original tranche, (23.2/100,000), 165 (16/100,000) survived to hospital discharge. 138 (86%) were traced, and 4 patients had left the country. Patients mean age was 34 (range 2-93). The male to female ratio was approximately 3:1. Twenty-one patients had died since discharge, due to unrelated illnesses. One hundred and five (76%) were living independently (GOS 4 and 5). Eleven patients (8%) were severely disabled, requiring assistance with activities of daily living. One patient remains in a persistent vegetative state. Return to work rates for those working at time of injury (and who remain of employable age) was 90%. The unemployment rate in the study population who are of working age was 34% (pre-injury rate 13%). The unemployment rate for those injured before their 17th birthday is currently 52%. CONCLUSION: We now have 12 year population based outcome data for major trauma. Despite major injury, 90% of long term survivors are living independently, with 90% returning to work. There is a trend towards higher unemployment when injured in childhood.