Physicians using ultrasound in Danish emergency departments are mostly summoned specialists
نویسندگان
چکیده
BACKGROUND Emergency ultrasound is a relatively new diagnostic discipline. It is used as an extension of the clinical examination and is ideal in the setting of acute illness. The objective of this study was to investigate how many Emergency Departments (EDs) in Denmark have implemented emergency ultrasound. We also wanted to give an idea of how many and which physicians have adopted ultrasound as a diagnostic tool so far. METHODS The study was a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter survey that included all physician staffed EDs in Denmark. An Internet based questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to all heads of department. Those departments who responded that ultrasound was available in their department were included in the second part of the study where all physicians working in the ED were contacted and asked to complete a second questionnaire. RESULTS All 28 eligible EDs participated in the first part of the study (Response rate: 100 %). 25 EDs (89 %, 95 % CI: 85-93) had ultrasound equipment available. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,872 physicians in these departments and 561 responded (Response rate: 30 %, 95 % CI: 28-32). Overall 257 (46 %, 95 % CI: 42-50) were users of emergency ultrasound and 304 were non-users (54 %, 95 % CI: 50-58). The largest group with 146 respondents (25 %, 95 % CI: 21-29) were anaesthetists with merely consult duty in the ED. When looking exclusively on physicians with on-call duty in the ED, thus excluding anaesthetists, only 146 (35 %, 95 % CI: 30-40) were users of ultrasound while 269 (65 %, 95 % CI: 60-70) were non-users. There was a considerable difference regarding age, level of training, and medical specialty between users and non-users. Users were mainly anaesthetists and attending physicians from other departments. The majority of non-users were young physicians with on call duty in the ED. CONCLUSIONS We have found that although almost all Danish EDs have ultrasound equipment available, few physicians working in the ED seem to have adopted the tool. Emergency Ultrasound is mainly performed by specialists who are summoned to the ED in case of severe acute illness and not by those physicians who comprise the backbone of the ED around the clock.
منابع مشابه
Resource allocation for emergency teams in Danish Emergency Departments
Results Nineteen of twenty (95%) departments responded. Three departments were excluded due to incomplete data. All departments (n=16) received unselected critically ill patients, patients in cardiac arrest and trauma patients. In 16 (100%) departments there were a designated team that responded to cardiac arrest and trauma patients. Only 5 (31%) departments had access to a designated medical e...
متن کاملمقایسه میزان صحت تشخیصی پزشکان عمومی و متخصص اورژانس در تشخیص رادیوگرافی قفسه صدری بیماران مشکوک به پنوموتوراکس ایاتروژنیک: گزارش کوتاه
Background: Pneumothorax is a potential life-threatening condition especially in patients with underlying disorders. In this study we compared the diagnostic accuracy of general practitioners and emergency medicine specialists in interpreting chest x-rays (CXR) suspected of having iatrogenic pneumothorax in emergency departments. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shahid Cham...
متن کاملA framework for implementation, education, research and clinical use of ultrasound in emergency departments by the Danish Society for Emergency Medicine
The first Danish Society for Emergency Medicine (DASEM) recommendations for the use of clinical ultrasound in emergency departments has been made. The recommendations describes what DASEM believes as being current best practice for training, certification, maintenance of acquired competencies, quality assurance, collaboration and research in the field of clinical US used in an ED.
متن کاملMedication problems are frequent and often serious in a Danish emergency department and may be discovered by clinical pharmacists.
INTRODUCTION Transferring a patient from one health-care sector to another implies a risk of medication errors. It is of interest to evaluate whether a specialist in clinical pharmacy is beneficial for the patients in the emergency departments (ED). The aim of the present study was to report the incidence, categories and seriousness of medication problems discovered by clinical pharmacists in a...
متن کاملPhysician Attitudes on the Provision of Palliative Care in Puerto Rican Emergency Departments
Objective: Although many institutions in the United States have incorporated palliative care practices in their emergency departments, very little has occurred in Puerto Rico. Information regarding palliative care training of emergency medicine physicians in Puerto Rico is unclear and most physicians have poor or no access to palliative care services for their patients. This study explores the ...
متن کامل