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Allert C, Nilsson B, Svensson A, Andersson EK. Voluntary first responders' experiences of being dispatched to suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in rural areas: an interview study. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2024; 24:157. [PMID: 38486144 PMCID: PMC10938808 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03826-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death, and survival outcomes vary across countries and regions. To improve survival, the European Resuscitation Council Guidelines encourage the implementation of technologies like smartphone applications to alert voluntary first responders (VFRs) who are near a suspected OHCA. VFRs are of great importance in the ´chain of survival´, but there is still a lack of knowledge about their experiences; especially of those operating in rural areas. Understanding those experiences is crucial in developing appropriate interventions to train, encourage, and safeguard VFRs in their mission. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe VFRs´ experiences of being dispatched to suspected OHCA in rural areas. METHODS The study used an inductive design. The data were collected using individual interviews with 16 VFRs and analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS The results are presented in terms of six generic categories ''Being motivated and prepared'', ''Having strategies to undertake the mission'', ''Collaborating with others'', ''Being ethically aware'', ''Supporting the family members'', and ''Coping with the mission'', which formed the basis of the main category 'Desire to save lives and help others'. The findings showed that VFRs had a genuine desire to contribute to save lives in this rural area. Regardless of the circumstances, they were prepared to leave everything and act to the best for the victim and their family members. In theirs' missions they collaborated with others at the scene and were guided by ethics while they acted in complex circumstances. CONCLUSIONS VFRs dispatched in rural areas express a desire to save lives. In their missions, they acted in complex situations and experienced both emotional and ethical challenges. The design, implementation, and evaluation of support interventions directed at VFRs should be prioritised, especially in rural areas, as it can contribute to more people becoming and remaining VFRs, which in turn could contribute to sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Allert
- Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University Lecturer Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Linnaeus University, 392 31, Växjö/Kalmar, Sweden.
- Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration Within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden.
| | - Bengt Nilsson
- Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
- Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration Within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
- Agunnaryd Voluntary Fire Brigade, Ljungby, Sweden
| | - Anders Svensson
- Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University Lecturer Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Linnaeus University, 392 31, Växjö/Kalmar, Sweden
- Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration Within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
- Department of Ambulance Service, Region Kronoberg, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Ewa K Andersson
- Department of Health and Caring Sciences, University Lecturer Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Linnaeus University, 392 31, Växjö/Kalmar, Sweden
- Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration Within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
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Lapidus O, Jonsson M, Svensson L, Hollenberg J, Berglund E, Riva G, Claesson A, Nordberg P, Rosenqvist M, Forsberg S, Nord A, Ringh M. Effects of a volunteer responder system for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in areas of different population density - A retrospective cohort study. Resuscitation 2023; 191:109921. [PMID: 37543160 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2023.109921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Volunteer responder dispatch to nearby out-of-hospital cardiac arrests using a smartphone application can increase the proportion of patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is unknown how population density is related to the efficacy of a volunteer responder system. This study aimed to compare the response time of volunteer responders and EMS dispatched to suspected OHCAs in areas of different population density. METHODS A total of 2630 suspected OHCAs in Stockholm County during 2018-2020 where at least one dispatched volunteer responder reached the patient were identified through the HeartRunner™ application database. Study outcome was the proportion of cases where volunteer responders arrived at the scene before EMS, as well as the difference in time between the arrival of volunteer responders and EMS. RESULTS Volunteer responders arrived before EMS in 68% of examined cases (n = 1613). Higher population density was associated with a lower proportion of cases where volunteer responders arrived at the scene before EMS. Time on scene before arrival of EMS was highest in areas of low population density and averaged 4:07 (mm:ss). Response time was significantly shorter for volunteer responders compared to EMS across all population density groups at 4:47 vs 8:11 (mm:ss) (p < 0.001); the largest difference in response time was found in low population density areas. CONCLUSION Volunteer responders have significantly shorter response time than EMS regardless of population density, with the greatest difference in low population density areas. Although their impact on clinical outcome remains unknown, the benefits of dispatching volunteer responders to OHCAs may be greatest in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Lapidus
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Jonsson
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leif Svensson
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jacob Hollenberg
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ellinor Berglund
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gabriel Riva
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Claesson
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Nordberg
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mårten Rosenqvist
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sune Forsberg
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anette Nord
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mattias Ringh
- Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
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Prehospital Time Interval for Urban and Rural Emergency Medical Services: A Systematic Literature Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10122391. [PMID: 36553915 PMCID: PMC9778378 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10122391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to discuss the differences in pre-hospital time intervals between rural and urban communities regarding emergency medical services (EMS). A systematic search was conducted through various relevant databases, together with a manual search to find relevant articles that compared rural and urban communities in terms of response time, on-scene time, and transport time. A total of 37 articles were ultimately included in this review. The sample sizes of the included studies was also remarkably variable, ranging between 137 and 239,464,121. Twenty-nine (78.4%) reported a difference in response time between rural and urban areas. Among these studies, the reported response times for patients were remarkably variable. However, most of them (number (n) = 27, 93.1%) indicate that response times are significantly longer in rural areas than in urban areas. Regarding transport time, 14 studies (37.8%) compared this outcome between rural and urban populations. All of these studies indicate the superiority of EMS in urban over rural communities. In another context, 10 studies (27%) reported on-scene time. Most of these studies (n = 8, 80%) reported that the mean on-scene time for their populations is significantly longer in rural areas than in urban areas. On the other hand, two studies (5.4%) reported that on-scene time is similar in urban and rural communities. Finally, only eight studies (21.6%) reported pre-hospital times for rural and urban populations. All studies reported a significantly shorter pre-hospital time in urban communities compared to rural communities. Conclusions: Even with the recently added data, short pre-hospital time intervals are still superior in urban over rural communities.
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Andréll C, Dankiewicz J, Todorova L, Olanders K, Ullén S, Friberg H. Firefighters as first-responders in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest- a retrospective study of a time-gain selective dispatch system in the Skåne Region, Sweden. Resuscitation 2022; 179:131-140. [PMID: 36028144 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
AIM To analyze the impact of a time-gain selective, first-responder dispatch system on the presence of a shockable initial rhythm (SIR), return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and 30-day survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHOD A retrospective observational study comprising OHCA registry data and dispatch data in the Skåne Region, Sweden (2010-2018). Data were categorized according to dispatch procedures, two ambulances (AMB-only) versus two ambulances and firefighter first-responders (DUAL-dispatch), based on the dispatcher's estimation of a time-gain. Dual dispatch was sub-categorized by arrival of first vehicle (first-responder or ambulance). Logistic regressions were used, additionally with groups matched (1:1) for age, witnessed event, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ambulance response time. Adjusted and conditional odds-ratios (aOR, cOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are presented. RESULTS Of 3,245 eligible cases, 43% were DUAL-dispatches with first-responders first on scene (FR-first) in 72%. Despite a five-minute median reduction in response time in the FR-first group, no association with SIR was found (aOR 0.83, 95%CI 0.64-1.07) nor improved 30-day survival (aOR 1.03, 95%CI 0.72-1.47). A positive association between ROSC and the FR-first group (aOR 1.25, 95%CI 1.02-1.54) disappeared in the matched analysis (cOR 1.12, 95%CI 0.87-1.43). Time to first monitored rhythm was 7:06 minutes in the FR-first group versus 3:01 in the combined AMB-only/AMB-first groups. CONCLUSION In this time-gain selective first-responder dispatch system, a shorter response time was not associated with increased SIR, improved ROSC rate or survival. Process measures differed between the study groups which could account for the observed findings and requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Andréll
- Center for Cardiac Arrest, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Remissgatan 4, S-22185 Lund, Sweden; Team CPR, Practicum Clinical Skills Centre, Region Skåne, Sweden. Jan Waldenströms gata 24, S-20502 Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Josef Dankiewicz
- Center for Cardiac Arrest, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Remissgatan 4, S-22185 Lund, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Entrégatan 7, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Lizbet Todorova
- Medicine Services University Trust, Region Skåne, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Knut Olanders
- Department of Intensive and Perioperative Care, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Entrégatan 7, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Susann Ullén
- Clinical Studies Sweden, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Remissgatan 4, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hans Friberg
- Center for Cardiac Arrest, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Remissgatan 4, S-22185 Lund, Sweden; Department of Intensive and Perioperative Care, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. Carl-Bertil Laurells gata 9, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden
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Nord-Ljungquist H, Bohm K, Fridlund B, Elmqvist C, Engström Å. "Time that save lives" while waiting for ambulance in rural environments. Int Emerg Nurs 2021; 59:101100. [PMID: 34781156 DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2021.101100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Firefighters perform first aid before the ambulance arrives in areas with a long response time in Sweden; this is called 'While Waiting for the Ambulance' (WWFA). The aim was to describe WWFA assignments in rural environments, focusing on frequency, event time, actions and survival >30 days after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed. METHODS Retrospective descriptive and comparative design. RESULTS Firefighters in the northern part of Sweden were involved in 518 WWFA assignments between 2012 and 2016. From alarm call until ambulance dispatch, median time was 2:20 min; for firefighters, nearly four minutes. Median dispatch time at out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) (n = 52) was 1:40 min for ambulance and three minutes for firefighters. Maximal dispatch time was nearly 10 min for ambulance and 44 min for firefighters. Firefighters arrived first at the scene, after 17 min' median, for 95 % of assignments, while the ambulance took nearly twice the amount of time. In OHCA situations, time for firefighters was over 19 min versus ambulance at nearly twice the time. CPR was terminated by ambulance staff at 83% (n = 43) of 52 when firefighters performed prolonged CPR. Return to spontaneous circulation after OHCA was 17%, and 9% were alive after >30 days. CONCLUSION The efficiency of incident time and utilisation rate for WWFA assignments can be increased for the benefit of affected persons, especially in OHCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Nord-Ljungquist
- Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden; Division of Nursing and Medical Technology, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
| | - Katarina Bohm
- Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Emergency Medicine, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Bengt Fridlund
- Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Carina Elmqvist
- Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration within Emergency Care (CICE), Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden; Head of Research in County Council Kronoberg and Research Manager for the Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration within Emergency Care (CICE) at the Department of Health and Caring Science, Linnaeus University, Sweden.
| | - Åsa Engström
- Division of Nursing and Medical Technology, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
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Matinrad N, Reuter-Oppermann M. A review on initiatives for the management of daily medical emergencies prior to the arrival of emergency medical services. CENTRAL EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH 2021; 30:251-302. [PMID: 34566490 PMCID: PMC8449697 DOI: 10.1007/s10100-021-00769-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Emergency services worldwide face increasing cost pressure that potentially limits their existing resources. In many countries, emergency services also face the issues of staff shortage-creating extra challenges and constraints, especially during crisis times such as the COVID-19 pandemic-as well as long distances to sparsely populated areas resulting in longer response times. To overcome these issues and potentially reduce consequences of daily (medical) emergencies, several countries, such as Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, have started initiatives using new types of human resources as well as equipment, which have not been part of the existing emergency systems before. These resources are employed in response to medical emergency cases if they can arrive earlier than emergency medical services (EMS). A good number of studies have investigated the use of these new types of resources in EMS systems, from medical, technical, and logistical perspectives as their study domains. Several review papers in the literature exist that focus on one or several of these new types of resources. However, to the best of our knowledge, no review paper that comprehensively considers all new types of resources in emergency medical response systems exists. We try to fill this gap by presenting a broad literature review of the studies focused on the different new types of resources, which are used prior to the arrival of EMS. Our objective is to present an application-based and methodological overview of these papers, to provide insights to this important field and to bring it to the attention of researchers as well as emergency managers and administrators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Matinrad
- Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, Norrköping, 60174 Sweden
| | - Melanie Reuter-Oppermann
- Information Systems - Software and Digital Business Group, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany
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Mentzelopoulos SD, Couper K, Van de Voorde P, Druwé P, Blom M, Perkins GD, Lulic I, Djakow J, Raffay V, Lilja G, Bossaert L. [Ethics of resuscitation and end of life decisions]. Notf Rett Med 2021; 24:720-749. [PMID: 34093076 PMCID: PMC8170633 DOI: 10.1007/s10049-021-00888-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
These European Resuscitation Council Ethics guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the ethical, routine practice of resuscitation and end-of-life care of adults and children. The guideline primarily focus on major ethical practice interventions (i.e. advance directives, advance care planning, and shared decision making), decision making regarding resuscitation, education, and research. These areas are tightly related to the application of the principles of bioethics in the practice of resuscitation and end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyros D. Mentzelopoulos
- Evaggelismos Allgemeines Krankenhaus, Abteilung für Intensivmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät der Nationalen und Kapodistrischen Universität Athen, 45–47 Ipsilandou Street, 10675 Athen, Griechenland
| | - Keith Couper
- Universitätskliniken Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, UK Critical Care Unit, Birmingham, Großbritannien
- Medizinische Fakultät Warwick, Universität Warwick, Coventry, Großbritannien
| | - Patrick Van de Voorde
- Universitätsklinikum und Universität Gent, Gent, Belgien
- staatliches Gesundheitsministerium, Brüssel, Belgien
| | - Patrick Druwé
- Abteilung für Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Gent, Gent, Belgien
| | - Marieke Blom
- Medizinisches Zentrum der Universität Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Niederlande
| | - Gavin D. Perkins
- Medizinische Fakultät Warwick, Universität Warwick, Coventry, Großbritannien
| | | | - Jana Djakow
- Intensivstation für Kinder, NH Hospital, Hořovice, Tschechien
- Abteilung für Kinderanästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum und Medizinische Fakultät der Masaryk-Universität, Brno, Tschechien
| | - Violetta Raffay
- School of Medicine, Europäische Universität Zypern, Nikosia, Zypern
- Serbischer Wiederbelebungsrat, Novi Sad, Serbien
| | - Gisela Lilja
- Universitätsklinikum Skane, Abteilung für klinische Wissenschaften Lund, Neurologie, Universität Lund, Lund, Schweden
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Mentzelopoulos SD, Couper K, Voorde PVD, Druwé P, Blom M, Perkins GD, Lulic I, Djakow J, Raffay V, Lilja G, Bossaert L. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Ethics of resuscitation and end of life decisions. Resuscitation 2021; 161:408-432. [PMID: 33773832 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2021.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
These European Resuscitation Council Ethics guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the ethical, routine practice of resuscitation and end-of-life care of adults and children. The guideline primarily focus on major ethical practice interventions (i.e. advance directives, advance care planning, and shared decision making), decision making regarding resuscitation, education, and research. These areas are tightly related to the application of the principles of bioethics in the practice of resuscitation and end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keith Couper
- UK Critical Care Unit, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Patrick Van de Voorde
- University Hospital and University Ghent, Belgium; Federal Department Health, Belgium
| | - Patrick Druwé
- Ghent University Hospital, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marieke Blom
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gavin D Perkins
- UK Critical Care Unit, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Jana Djakow
- Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, NH Hospital, Hořovice, Czech Republic; Department of Paediatric Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Violetta Raffay
- European University Cyprus, School of Medicine, Nicosia, Cyprus; Serbian Resuscitation Council, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Gisela Lilja
- Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurology, Lund, Sweden
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Jones M, Mills D, Gray R. Expecting the unexpected? Improving rural health in the era of bushfires, novel coronavirus and climate change. Aust J Rural Health 2020; 28:107-109. [PMID: 32390197 DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Jones
- Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia, Whyalla, Australia
| | - David Mills
- Adelaide Rural Clinical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Richard Gray
- Clinical Nursing Practice, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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