Disaster preparedness among Thai elderly emergency department patients: a survey of patients' perspective

Effects of the Hazardous Area Response Team Training Program on the Knowledge and Confidence in Operational Skills of Prehospital Emergency Medical Personnel in Thailand: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background

Hazardous areas are places emitting hazardous materials, terrorist- or war-related, which lead to public health risks in developed and developing countries globally. Hence, prehospital emergency medical personnel who work as frontliners should be trained.

Patients and Methods

Data via pretest, posttest, and questionnaire surveys regarding the HART's knowledge of and confidence in operational skills were collected using the 5-point Likert scale. The cohort included prehospital emergency medical personnel aged >18 years. The training program comprised lectures, practicals, and examinations and included three subcourses: emergency medicine in the chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear hazardous area (EM-CBRN) course; Thailand Tactical Emergency Medical Service (TTEMS) course; and cooperation and preparation for disaster (CPD) course.

Results

The HART's mean multiple choice question (MCQ) posttest knowledge score (12.80±3.11) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than the mean pretest knowledge score (7.74±3.71) for the EM-CBRN course. The HART's mean MCQ posttest knowledge score (24.04±2.79) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than the mean pretest knowledge score (14.34±3.92) for the TTEMS course. Further, the HART's mean MCQ posttest knowledge score (21.03±3.49) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than the mean pretest knowledge score (14.40±5.08) for the CPD course. The HART's mean confidence in operational skill score for the EM-CBRN course was significantly higher (p<0.001) after training (4.45±0.59) than before training (2.77±0.90). The HART's mean confidence in operational skill score for the TTEMS course was significantly higher (p<0.001) after training (4.55±0.59) than before training (2.78±0.98). The HART's mean confidence in operational skill score for the CPD course was significantly higher (p<0.001) after training (4.70±0.41) than before training (3.03±0.90).

Conclusion

The HART training program significantly affected the HART's knowledge development and confidence in operational skills, particularly the frontline prehospital emergency medical personnel. Therefore, prehospital emergency medical personnel should undergo training, and learning activities must be developed to reinforce capacity and improve knowledge and confidence.

Associated Factors of Under and Over-Triage Based on The Emergency Severity Index; a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Under-triage increases patients' risks for morbidity and mortality, whereas over-triage limits the resources available to sicker patients. This study aimed to determine the rates as well as associated factors of under-triage and over-triage in emergency department (ED), based on Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage system.

Methods

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, triage level of ED patients based on the ESI version 4, was studied during a 9-month period in 2019. Patients' ESI level, which were examined by triage nurses were reevaluated by 3 emergency physicians and the rate of correct, under-, and over-triage as well as their associated factors were analyzed.

Results

1000 cases of triage were evaluated. Triage was correct in 69.1% of cases. The rate of under-triage was 4.9%, and that of over-triage was 26.0%. Over-triage was significantly more common among patients aged 18-30 years than for those aged ≥65 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.81; p = 0.026); those with traumatic injuries (adjusted OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.29-2.52; p = 0.001); those arriving at the hospital during the evening shift (adjusted OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.01-2.0; p = 0.046); patients who were hospitalized (adjusted OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.22-0.54; p < 0.001); and those with severe pain (adjusted OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.10-0.84; p = 0.023). Younger age was also significantly associated with under-triage. Patients aged 18-30 years were under-triaged more often than those aged ≥65 years (adjusted OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.16-8.00; p = 0.023).

Conclusions

Over-triage was substantially more common than under-triage in Vajira Hospital. Factors associated with over-triage were younger age, traumatic injury, arrival time, hospital admission, and severe pain. Younger age was the only factor related to under-triage.

Tradução e adaptação transcultural do Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) de Pfeiffer para pessoas idosas brasileiras

Resumo Objetivo Adaptar culturalmente o Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) de Pfeiffer para uso no Brasil. Métodos O processo envolveu as seguintes fases: tradução inicial; síntese das traduções; retrotradução; revisão por um comitê de especialistas com experts da área para analisar a validade aparente e de conteúdo, contemplando as equivalências semântica, idiomática, cultural, conceitual e clareza e, por fim, um pré-teste com a população alvo. Resultados Na tradução inicial e na retrotradução ocorreram discordâncias entre os tradutores, em 19 e 7 itens respectivamente, que posteriormente foram discutidos e conciliados pelo comitê. O comitê de especialistas sugeriu modificações desde o layout até adequações de termos técnicos para facilitar a aplicabilidade dos profissionais e para tornar o instrumento final mais claro e compreensível para a população-alvo. No pré-teste, 36,6% dos avaliados demonstraram dificuldades no entendimento de um item do questionário; o item foi substituído, a escala foi reaplicada obtendo 100% de compreensão. Conclusão O estudo demonstrou que a versão brasileira do SPMSQ estabelecida como Breve Escala de Capacidade Cognitiva apresentou-se transculturalmente adaptada, com seus itens considerados claros e compreensíveis pelos especialistas e pela população-alvo. O instrumento adaptado contribui por se tratar de uma ferramenta breve de avaliação disponível para rastrear a capacidade cognitiva dos idosos. É recomendado a análise das propriedades psicométricas, estabelecendo o grau de validade e confiabilidade, o qual já está em desenvolvimento pelos autores deste estudo.