[Empirical health services research in emergency and acute medicine : Preliminary results of concomitant monitoring of patient recruitment and sample quality]

[Reasons for non-participation in a patient survey in the context of prehospital emergency medical care by community emergency paramedics - A retrospective observational study]

BACKGROUND

In order to evaluate whether the new rescue means "community emergency paramedics" (Gemeindenotfallsanitäter [G-NFS]) relieves the emergency medical service (EMS) in the care of low-priority emergencies, the perspective of general practitioners and patients was also surveyed in a written questionnaire as part of an innovation fund project. Recruitment for participation in the study proved to be difficult. The aim of this study is to evaluate why the G-NFS decided against providing information on study participation and what measures would be necessary to include more emergency patients in surveys in the future.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the assignment protocols from April 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. In addition to patient characteristics, data on treatments, interventions and recommendations to patients as well as reasons for non-participation in the patient survey were collected.

RESULTS

5,395 G-NFS protocols that contained information on non-participation were included in the analysis. The average age of the patients was 62.4 years (SD 22.7), and 50.2% were female. 57.4% of the cases were categorised as non-urgent, and 35.2% of the cases required an additional ambulance to be alerted. 404 (7.5%) patients used the EMS more than once, 1,120 (20.8%) did not have sufficient language skills, 1,012 (18.8%) patients declined study participation, and 2,975 (55.1%) patients were not able to participate according to the G-NFS assessment. Dementia/neurocognitive impairment (35%), acute/emergency situation (26.5%), mental health impairment (10.3%), and substance abuse (6.5%) were given as reasons for non-participation from the G-NFS perspective.

DISCUSSION

The results show that more than half of the patients were unable to take part in a written survey for various reasons, even though there was no need for urgent care. This could be due to a high demand for care and the complex consent procedure. In addition, further resources are required to provide needs-based care for these patients in order to relieve the burden on emergency medical care. Over half of the patients were unable to take part in a written survey for various reasons. Further research is needed to determine what consent procedures are appropriate to facilitate patients' study participation.

Primary and secondary data in emergency medicine health services research - a comparative analysis in a regional research network on multimorbid patients

BACKGROUND

This analysis addresses the characteristics of two emergency department (ED) patient populations defined by three model diseases (hip fractures, respiratory, and cardiac symptoms) making use of survey (primary) and routine (secondary) data from hospital information systems (HIS). Our aims were to identify potential systematic inconsistencies between both data samples and implications of their use for future ED-based health services research.

METHODS

The research network EMANET prospectively collected primary data (n=1442) from 2017-2019 and routine data from 2016 (n=9329) of eight EDs in a major German city. Patient populations were characterized using socio-structural (age, gender) and health- and care-related variables (triage, transport to ED, case and discharge type, multi-morbidity). Statistical comparisons between descriptive results of primary and secondary data samples for each variable were conducted using binomial test, chi-square goodness-of-fit test, or one-sample t-test according to scale level.

RESULTS

Differences in distributions of patient characteristics were found in nearly all variables in all three disease populations, especially with regard to transport to ED, discharge type and prevalence of multi-morbidity. Recruitment conditions (e.g., patient non-response), project-specific inclusion criteria (e.g., age and case type restrictions) as well as documentation routines and practices of data production (e.g., coding of diagnoses) affected the composition of primary patient samples. Time restrictions of recruitment procedures did not generate meaningful differences regarding the distribution of characteristics in primary and secondary data samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary and secondary data types maintain their advantages and shortcomings in the context of emergency medicine health services research. However, differences in the distribution of selected variables are rather small. The identification and classification of these effects for data interpretation as well as the establishment of monitoring systems in the data collection process are pivotal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

DRKS00011930 (EMACROSS), DRKS00014273 (EMAAGE), NCT03188861 (EMASPOT).

Health-related quality of life and associated factors after hip fracture. Results from a six-month prospective cohort study

Background

Hip fractures are a major public health problem with increasing relevance in aging societies. They are associated with high mortality rates, morbidity, and loss of independence. The aim of the EMAAge study was to determine the impact of hip fractures on patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and to identify potential risk factors for worse outcomes.

Methods

EMAAge is a multicenter, prospective cohort study of patients who suffered a hip fracture. Patients or, if necessary, proxies were interviewed after initial treatment and after six months using standardized questionnaires including the EQ-5D-5L instrument, the Oxford Hip Score, the PHQ-4, the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire, and items on patients living situation. Medical data on diagnoses, comorbidities, medications, and hospital care were derived from hospital information systems.

Results

A total of 326 patients were included. EQ-5D index values decreased from a mean of 0.70 at baseline to 0.63 at six months. The mean self-rated health on the EQ-VAS decreased from 69.9 to 59.4. Multivariable linear regression models revealed three relevant associated factors with the six-months EQ-5D index: symptoms of depression and anxiety, pre-fracture limitations in activities of daily living, and no referral to a rehabilitation facility had a negative impact. In addition, the six-months EQ-VAS was negatively associated with polypharmacy, living in a facility, and migration background.

Conclusions

Hip fractures have a substantial negative impact on patients HRQOL. Our results suggest that there are modifying factors that need further investigation including polypharmacy and migration background. Structured and timely rehabilitation seems to be a protective factor.

Self-referred walk-in patients in the emergency department - who and why? Consultation determinants in a multicenter study of respiratory patients in Berlin, Germany

BACKGROUND

Emergency department (ED) consultations are on the rise, and frequently consultations by non-urgent patients have been held accountable. Self-referred walk-in (SRW) consulters supposedly represent a predominantly less urgent patient population. The EMACROSS study aimed to explore consultation determinants and motives in SRW patients with respiratory symptoms.

METHODS

Multicenter survey of adult ED patients with respiratory complaints in eight emergency departments in central Berlin, Germany. Secondary hospital records data including diagnoses was additionally assessed. Characteristics of SRW and non-SRW patients were compared. Determinants of SRW consultation were evaluated by binary logistic regression. Consultation motives were analyzed descriptively. As a supplemental approach, network analysis (lasso-regularized mixed graphical model) was performed to explore connections between consultation determinants, consultation features and motives.

RESULTS

Between June 2017 and November 2018, n = 472 participants were included, the median age was 55 years (range 18-96), 53.2% of patients were male and n = 185 cases (39.2%) were SRW consulters. The SRW group showed lower proportions of potentially severe (pneumonia and respiratory failure, p < 0.001, χ2 test) and chronic pulmonary conditions. Determinants of SRW consultation identified by logistic regression were younger age (p < 0.001), tertiary education (p = 0.032), being a first-generation migrant (p = 0.002) or tourist (p = 0.008), having no regular primary care provider (p = 0.036) and no chronic pulmonary illness (p = 0.017). The area under the curve (AUC) for the model was 0.79. Personal distress and access problems in ambulatory care were stated most frequently as consultation motives in the SRW group; network analysis showed the scarcity of associations between demographic and medical SRW determinants and motives triggering the actual decision to consult.

CONCLUSIONS

As to "who" consults, this study identified demographic and medical predictors of SRW utilization. The said markers seem only remotely connected to "why" people decide for SRW visits. To alleviate ED crowding by addressing frequent SRW consultation motives, interventions focused on the ability for symptom self-assessment and at better-accessible alternative care seem sensible.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register ( DRKS00011930 ); date: 2017/04/25.