Confidence and experience in emergency medicine procedures. Norwegian general practitioners

Out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation experience, confidence and confidence-associated factors among Northern Japanese emergency life-saving technicians: a population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Clinical procedural experience and confidence are both important when performing complex medical procedures. Since out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a complex intervention, we sought to clarify clinical ETI experience among prehospital rescuers as well as their confidence in performing ETI and confidence-associated factors.

DESIGN

Population-based cross-sectional study conducted from January to September 2017.

SETTING

Northern Japan, including eight prefectures.

PARTICIPANTS

Emergency life-saving technicians (ELSTs) authorised to perform ETI.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Annual ETI exposure and confidence in performing ETI, according to a five-point Likert scale. To determine factors associated with ETI confidence, differences between confident ELSTs (those scoring 4 or 5 on the Likert scale) and non-confident ELSTs were evaluated.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were sent to 149 fire departments (FDs); 140 agreed to participate. Among the 2821 ELSTs working at responding FDs, 2620 returned the questionnaire (response rate, 92.9%); complete data sets were available for 2567 ELSTs (complete response rate, 91.0%). Of those 2567 respondents, 95.7% performed two or fewer ETI annually; 46.6% reported lack of confidence in performing ETI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that years of clinical experience (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.09; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.13), annual ETI exposure (AOR 1.79; 95% CI 1.59 to 2.03) and the availability of ETI skill retention programmes including regular simulation training (AOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.68) and operating room training (AOR 1.44; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.83) were independently associated with confidence in performing ETI.

CONCLUSIONS

ETI is an uncommon event for most ELSTs, and nearly half of respondents did not have confidence in performing this procedure. Since confidence in ETI was independently associated with availability of regular simulation and operating room training, standardisation of ETI re-education that incorporates such methods may be useful for prehospital rescuers.

Self reported involvement in emergency medicine among GPs in Norway

OBJECTIVE

To examine general practitioners' (GPs') perception of their role in emergency medicine and participation in emergency services including ambulance call outs, and the characteristics of the GPs and casualty clinics associated with the GPs' involvement in emergency medicine.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional online survey.

SETTING

General practice.

SUBJECTS

General practitioners in Norway (n = 1002).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Proportion of GPs perceiving that they have a large role in emergency medicine, regularly being on call, and the proportion of ambulance callouts with GP participation.

RESULTS

Forty six percent of the GPs indicated that they play a large role in emergency medicine, 63 percent of the GPs were regularly on call, and 28 percent responded that they usually took part in ambulance call outs. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that these outcomes were strongly associated with participation in multidisciplinary training. Furthermore, the main outcomes were associated with traits commonly seen at smaller casualty clinics such as those with an absence of nursing personnel and extra physicians, and based on the distance to the hospital.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that GPs play an important role in emergency medicine. Multidisciplinary team training may be important for their continued involvement in prehospital emergencies. Key Points   Health authorities and other stakeholders have raised concerns about general practitioner's (GPs) participation in emergency medicine, but few have studied opinions and perceptions among the GPs themselves.   • Norwegian GPs report playing a large role in emergency medicine, regularly being on call, and taking part in selected ambulance call outs.   • A higher proportion of GPs who took part in team training perceived themselves as playing a large role in emergency medicine, regularly being on call, and taking part in ambulance call outs.   • These outcomes were also associated with attributes commonly seen at smaller casualty clinics.

The role of general practitioners in the pre hospital setting, as experienced by emergency medicine technicians: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Together with the ambulances staffed with emergency medical technicians (EMTs), general practitioners (GPs) on call are the primary resources for handling emergencies outside hospitals in Norway. The benefit of the GP accompanying the ambulance to pre-hospital calls is a matter of controversy in Norway. The purpose of the present study was to gain better insight into the EMT's experiences with the role of the GPs in the care for critically ill patients in the pre-hospital setting.

METHODS

We conducted four focus group interviews with EMTs at four different ambulance stations in Norway. Three of the stations were located at least 2 hours driving distance from the nearest hospital. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using systematic text condensation.

RESULTS

The EMTs described increasing confidence in emergency medicine during the last few years. However, they felt the need for GP participation in the ambulance when responding to a critically ill patient. The presence of GPs made the EMTs feel more confident, especially in unclear and difficult cases that did not fit into EMT guidelines. The main contributions of the GPs were described as diagnosis and decision-making. Bringing the physician to the patient shortened transportation time to the hospital and important medication could be started earlier. Several examples of sub-optimal treatment in the absence of the GP were given. The EMTs described discomfort with GPs not responding to the calls. They also experienced GPs responding to calls that did not function in the pre-hospital emergency setting. The EMTs reported a need for professional requirements for GPs taking part in out-of-hours work and mandatory interdisciplinary training on a regular basis.

CONCLUSIONS

EMTs want GPs to be present in challenging pre-hospital emergency settings. The presence of GPs is perceived as improving patient care. However, professional requirements are needed for GPs taking part in out-of-hours work, and the informants suggested a formalized area for training between EMTs and GPs on call.

Lack of confidence in administering emergency care among Dutch-speaking family physicians in Belgium

Background

Practical knowledge of emergency medical care among physicians seems to be insufficient worldwide. Research specifically aimed at family physicians is rather scarce. Additionally, in Belgium there are no data on this subject.

Purposes

Our aim was to ascertain how confident Belgian family physicians feel about their ability to give adequate emergency care and to examine their assessment of their knowledge of relevant medical conditions.

Methods

We used a web-based questionnaire for which a convenience sample of 974 Dutch-speaking family practitioners was invited through email. The survey assessed how these physicians perceived their own emergency skills and their knowledge of relevant medical conditions.

Results

The survey had a recruitment rate of 22% (n = 210), with a 75% completion rate. The minimum criteria formulated pertaining to skills and knowledge were met by 64% and 55% of the participants, respectively. The mean cumulative scores on skills and knowledge were 2.5 and 3.2, respectively (on a scale from 0 to 4). Physicians with additional training in emergency care (3.07 versus 2.72), or with a spirometry certificate (2.94 versus 2.72) scored better than those without. Practitioners from rural areas felt more confident than those from urbanized regions (3.25 versus 3.15). Physicians felt more competent in aspects of emergency care where they had experience.

Conclusion

Almost half of the Dutch-speaking family physicians in Belgium felt insufficiently competent to offer emergency medical care.

Involvement in emergency situations by primary care doctors on-call in Norway--a prospective population-based observational study

BACKGROUND

Primary care doctors on-call in the emergency primary health care services in Norway are, together with the ambulances, the primary resources for handling emergencies outside hospitals. There is a lack of reliable data for Norway on how often the primary care doctors are alerted and on their responses in the most urgent emergency cases. The aim of this study was to investigate how doctors on-call are involved in red responses (highest priority), using three different emergency medical communication centres (EMCC) as catchment area for a prospective population-based study.

METHODS

In the period from October to December 2007 three dispatch centres covering approximately 816,000 inhabitants prospectively recorded all acute emergency cases. Ambulance records, air ambulance records and records from the doctors on-call were collected. NACA score was used to define the severity of the emergencies.

RESULTS

5,105 cases were classified as red responses during the period. We have complete basic recordings (AMIS forms) from all and resaved ambulance records, air ambulance records and records from doctors on-call in 89% of the cases. Ambulances were alerted in 96% and doctors on-call in 47% of the cases, but there were large differences between the three EMCCs. Doctors on-call responded with call-out in 42% of the alerted cases. 28% of all patients were taken to a casualty clinic, 46% were admitted to hospital by a doctor and 24% were taken directly to hospital by ambulances. In total, primary care doctors on-call took active part in 42% of all red response cases, and together with GPs' daytime activity the primary health care services were involved in 50% of the cases. 29% of the cases were classified as life-threatening. Call-out by doctors on-call were found to be more frequent in life-threatening situations compared with not life-threatening situations.

CONCLUSION

Doctors on-call and GPs on daytime were involved in half of all red responses. There were large differences between the EMCCs in the frequency of doctors alerted. The inhabitants in the three EMMCs were thus offered different levels of professional competency in emergency situations outside hospitals.

[Cooperation between ambulance personnel and regular general practitioners]

BACKGROUND

The ambulance service in Norway has gone through a pronounced upgrading of skills and professionalization during the last 10 years. The purpose of this survey was to obtain knowledge on how the ambulance personnel perceive their own professional competence and their relationship to other occupational groups with whom they cooperate.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A questionnaire was sent to 300 persons who received authorization as ambulance personnel between 2002 - 2005. Questions were included on evaluation of inter-professional cooperation, professional appreciation and competence in practical handling of patients.

RESULTS

The response rate was 52 %. The ambulance personnel regarded the most problematic relationships and situations to be with nurses and regular general practioners in the out-of-hours services and with doctors in connection with emergencies at accident sites. 78 % of the ambulance personnel claimed that their own occupational group has the highest competence in the practical handling of patients with acute illness and injuries outside of hospitals. Nevertheless, only 19 % of them felt that occupational groups with who they cooperate appreciate their competence.

INTERPRETATION

Ambulance personnel have strong confidence in their own occupational group's competence in practical handling of patients. Strengthened formal competence combined with increased possibilities for initial medical treatment in the ambulances, may have contributed to an expanded role for ambulance personnel within pre-hospital emergency care. Smooth cooperation between regular general practitioners and ambulance personnel requires that both parties increase their understanding of the other group's procedures and roles.

[Development of events in medical emergency situations in a rural community]

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive study of medical emergency situations in a rural community in Norway has been undertaken for the first time. Some results from this study are presented; i.e. data on events (types and management) that occur in medical emergency situations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Austevoll is an island community in western Norway, with about 4400 inhabitants. Data on all events in medical emergency situations were recorded during two years. The following information was recorded: degree of urgency at the time of the emergency call and at patient examination (as assessed by the doctor), treatment measures and the relationship between doctors' and ambulance personnel's assessments.

RESULTS

236 medical emergency events were recorded. The doctors downgraded the seriousness of the event (from emergency call to actual examination of the patient) in 43 % of cases, while the event was upgraded in 11 %. For alarms dispatched from the emergency medical communication centres, the doctors downgraded the evaluation of seriousness in the time span alarm-examination in 67 % of cases, while the ambulance personnel downgraded seriousness in 85 %. Home dwelling was the initial location of treatment in 63 % of patients. The procedures performed most frequently were: venous cannulation, airway handling (including administration of oxygen), ECG-recording and/or monitoring of cardiac rhythm, and parenteral administration of drugs.

INTERPRETATION

For emergency medicine work general practitioners should focus on training fundamental practical skills. The doctors and the ambulance personnel have complementary roles in handling of medical emergency events. Ability of obtaining an adequate overall view of the patient's condition is an important aspect of the doctor's role.

Certified Athletic Trainers’ Management of Emergencies

Context:

Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) must be able to manage sport-related emergencies.

Objective:

To report emergency medical services (EMS) directors’ perception of how ATCs manage emergencies and ATCs’ comfort level in managing them.

Design:

2 descriptive questionnaires.

Participants:

EMS directors (n = 64) were asked about their perceptions of ATCs’ ability to handle emergencies. ATCs (n = 224) identified their comfort level with handling emergencies.

Results:

EMS directors who had preseason meetings with ATCs had a significantly better perception of the ATCs’ ability to handle emergencies than did those who did not have preseason meetings. ATCs with advanced certifications (emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-paramedic, and automated external defibrillator) were more comfortable handling emergencies than those without.

Conclusions:

EMS directors and ATCs revealed that ATCs could manage most emergencies that might arise in athletic activities. ATCs had a higher perception of their own ability to manage emergency situations than did the EMS directors.