scholarly journals A prospective, randomised controlled trial of an aged care nurse intervention within the Emergency Department

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Basic ◽  
David A Conforti

The aim of this randomised controlled trial involving 224 elderly patients was to determine whether early geriatric assessment (in the form of an aged care nurse intervention based in the emergency department) reduced admission to the hospital, length of inpatient stay (LOS), or functional decline during the hospitalisation. Baseline geriatric assessments were recorded in the medical files of intervention patients (n = 114). The nurse also liaised with the patients? carers and health care providers, organised referrals for out-of-hospital assessment and support services, and assisted in the care of those admitted as inpatients by documenting suggestions for assessment and referral. Assessment data from control patients (n = 110) were withheld, and the nurse had no further involvement in their inpatient or outpatient care. One hundred and seventy-one patients (76%) were admitted to the hospital, for a median LOS of 10 days. The nurse successfully identified those needing admission (odds ratio [OR], 14.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6? 75.1). Thirty-nine of 160 inpatients with available data (24%) had a functional deterioration during the hospitalisation. The intervention had no significant effect on admission to the hospital (OR, 0.7; CI, 0.3?1.7), LOS (hazard ratio, 1.1; CI, 0.7?1.5) or functional decline during the hospitalisation (OR, 1.3; CI, 0.5?3.3).

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Brass ◽  
Andrew P. Shoubridge ◽  
Maria Crotty ◽  
Lidia Morawska ◽  
Scott C. Bell ◽  
...  

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 poses a considerable threat to those living in residential aged care facilities (RACF). RACF COVID-19 outbreaks have been characterised by the rapid spread of infection and high rates of severe disease and associated mortality. Despite a growing body of evidence supporting airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, current infection control measures in RACF including hand hygiene, social distancing, and sterilisation of surfaces, focus on contact and droplet transmission. Germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) light has been used widely to prevent airborne pathogen transmission. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy of GUV technology in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in RACF. Methods A multicentre, two-arm double-crossover, randomised controlled trial will be conducted to determine the efficacy of GUV devices to reduce respiratory viral transmission in RACF, as an adjunct to existing infection control measures. The study will be conducted in partnership with three aged care providers in metropolitan and regional South Australia. RACF will be separated into paired within-site zones, then randomised to intervention order (GUV or control). The initial 6-week period will be followed by a 2-week washout before crossover to the second 6-week period. After accounting for estimated within-zone and within-facility correlations of infection, and baseline infection rates (10 per 100 person-days), a sample size of n = 8 zones (n = 40 residents/zone) will provide 89% power to detect a 50% reduction in symptomatic infection rate. The primary outcome will be the incidence rate ratio of combined symptomatic respiratory infections for intervention versus control. Secondary outcomes include incidence rates of hospitalisation for complications associated with respiratory infection; respiratory virus detection in facility air and fomite samples; rates of laboratory confirmed respiratory illnesses and genomic characteristics. Discussion Measures that can be deployed rapidly into RACF, that avoid the requirement for changes in resident and staff behaviour, and that are effective in reducing the risk of airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission, would provide considerable benefit in safeguarding a highly vulnerable population. In addition, such measures might substantially reduce rates of other respiratory viruses, which contribute considerably to resident morbidity and mortality. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000567820 (registered on 14th May, 2021).


2010 ◽  
Vol 197 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette L. Beautrais ◽  
Sheree J. Gibb ◽  
Alan Faulkner ◽  
David M. Fergusson ◽  
Roger T. Mulder

BackgroundSelf-harm and suicidal behaviour are common reasons for emergency department presentation. Those who present with self-harm have an elevated risk of further suicidal behaviour and death.AimsTo examine whether a postcard intervention reduces self-harm re-presentations in individuals presenting to the emergency department.MethodRandomised controlled trial conducted in Christchurch, New Zealand. The intervention consisted of six postcards mailed during the 12 months following an index emergency department attendance for self-harm. Outcome measures were the proportion of participants re-presenting with self-harm and the number of re-presentations for self-harm in the 12 months following the initial presentation.ResultsAfter adjustment for prior self-harm, there were no significant differences between the control and intervention groups in the proportion of participants re-presenting with self-harm or in the total number of re-presentations for self-harm.ConclusionsThe postcard intervention did not reduce further self-harm. Together with previous results this finding suggests that the postcard intervention may be effective only for selected subgroups.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. e025339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Carlton ◽  
Sarah Campbell ◽  
Jenny Ingram ◽  
Rebecca Kandiyali ◽  
Hazel Taylor ◽  
...  

IntroductionObservational data suggest a single high-sensitivity troponin blood test taken at emergency department (ED) presentation could be used to rule out major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in 10%–60% of ED patients with chest pain. This is done using an ‘undetectable’ cut-off (the Limit of Detection: LoD). We combined the LoD cut-off with ECG findings to create the LoDED strategy. We aim to establish whether the LoDED strategy works under real-life conditions, when compared with existing strategies, in a way that is cost-effective and acceptable to patients.Methods and analysisThis is a parallel-group pragmatic randomised controlled trial across UK EDs. Adults presenting to ED with suspected cardiac chest pain will be randomised 1:1. Existing rule-out strategies in current use across study centres, using serial high-sensitivity troponin testing, will be compared with the LoDED strategy. The primary outcome is successful early discharge (discharge from hospital within 4 hours of arrival) without MACE occurring within 30 days. Secondary outcomes include initial length of hospital stay; comparative costs; patient satisfaction and acceptability to patients. To detect a 9% difference between the early discharge rates (assuming an 8% rate in the standard care group) with 90% power, 594 patients need to be recruited, assuming a 95% follow-up rate.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Frenchay Research Ethics Committee (reference 18/SW/0038). Results will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal. Lay summaries will be made available to patients.Trial registration numberISRCTN86184521; Pre-results.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e028714
Author(s):  
Ronny Gunnarsson ◽  
Paul Cullen ◽  
Clare Heal ◽  
Jennifer Banks

ObjectiveThe objectives of this study were threefold: to estimate people’s interest in health-related research, to understand to what extent people appreciate being actively informed about current local health-related research and to investigate whether their interest can be influenced by advertising local current health-related research using large TV monitors.DesignRandomised controlled trial using a stepped wedge design.SettingThe emergency department waiting room at two public hospitals in northern Queensland, Australia.ParticipantsWaiting patients and their accompanying friends and relatives in the emergency department waiting room not requiring immediate medical attention.InterventionsA TV monitor advertising local current health-related research.Main outcome measuresOR for the effect of intervention on changing the interest in health-related research compared with a control group while adjusting for gender, age and socioeconomic standard.ResultsThe intervention significantly increased the short-term interest in health-related research with an OR of 1.3 (1.1–1.7, p=0.0063). We also noted that being female and being older was correlated to a higher interest in health-related researchConclusionsThis study found that proactive information significantly increased the general populations’ interest in health-related research. There are reasonable set up costs involved but the costs for maintaining the system were very low. Hence, it seems reasonable that research-active organisations should give much higher priority to this type of activity.Trial registration numberACTRN12617001085369


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