bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P025: Improving senior resident engagement at academic core rounds
Authors: Cortel-LeBlanc M. , Landreville J. , Thurgur L.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Royal College Emergency Medicine (EM) trainees at the University of Ottawa participate in weekly Academic Full Days (AFD) that consist of didactic activities, simulation-based learning, and core content sessions referred to as Core Rounds (CR). Despite CR being intentioned for all EM trainees, an attendance attrition has been noted as trainees progress towards their senior (SR) years (PGY3-5). The objectives of this study were to (1) identify barriers to SR trainee CR attendance and (2) identify areas for CR improvement. Methods: An on-line survey was administered to SR EM trainees (PGY3-5, n = 28) and recent graduates from our program (practice year 1-2, n = 20) to explore perceptions of the value of AFDs, CR attendance barriers, and areas for CR improvement. The survey consisted of 5-point Likert scales and free-text responses. Quantitative responses were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Free-text responses were analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Each free-text response was reviewed independently by two investigators (JML, MCL) and underwent line-by-line coding. Through joint discussions, the codes from each response were synthesized and themes were identified. Results: Of the 48 trainees and attendings surveyed, 32 responded (response rate 67%). Most respondents (90%) stated they benefited from SR trainee attendance when they were at a junior (JR) level. The majority perceived they benefited less from CR as a SR trainee compared to when they were a JR trainee (85%). Further, 87% responded that CR were not tailored to a SR level, and that they would attend more frequently if sessions were geared to their level (81%). From our thematic analysis, three themes emerged relating to SR trainee absenteeism: 1) CR quality, 2) External Factors (eg. trainee fatigue) and 3) Malalignment with trainees’ own education plan. We also identified three themes relating to areas for CR improvement: 1) CR content, 2) CR format and 3) SR trainee involvement. Conclusion: Respondents indicated a benefit to having SR trainee presence at CR. This study identified barriers to SR resident attendance at CR and areas for improvement. With the transition to competency based medical education it is critical that trainees engage in effective educational experiences, especially as the RCPSC does not mandate AFDs for EM training in this new curriculum. A culture-change initiative and CR reformat is now underway at our institution with planned post-implementation analysis.
P027: Who should discuss goals of care during acute deteriorations in patients with life threatening illnesses? A survey of clinicians from diverse pediatric specialties
Authors: Cote A. , Gaucher N. , Payot A.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Discomfort exists discussing goals of care with families of children with advanced life-threatening illnesses. There also exists important variability in the management of these patients. This study seeks to explore the perceptions of pediatric specialists involved in the care of children with life-threatening illnesses with regards to goals of care discussions and management during acute unexpected deteriorations. Methods: This single center survey study used 4 scenarios of children presenting to the emergency department with respiratory distress. Scenarios included patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, static encephalopathy, spinal muscular atrophy and refractory leukemia. Questions following each vignette were identical. Physicians from the specialties most involved in these scenarios completed the survey by email or in person. Data analysis used SPSS v.20 (IBM Inc.). Related samples non-parametric tests compared participants’ Likert scale answers. Results: Between May 2015 and May 2016, 60 participants completed the study; 14 were excluded (>60% missing answers). Most (80.4%) participants reported an interest in pediatric palliative care; 71.7% had 0-3 formal trainings. Participants believed goals of care were best discussed before an acute deterioration. Acute deteriorations were not seen as an opportune moment to initiate discussions about goals of care. However, validating these previous wishes was necessary, given that not discussing them was judged unacceptable by the participants. Pediatric specialists were seen as the most suitable teams to initiate these discussions, while the emergency department's role in these discussions was unclear. Several management options were less acceptable for the patient with static encephalopathy. Conclusion: Discussing goals of care during acute illness exacerbation involves many stakeholders, who may not always be available at critical times. Advanced care planning with these families is essential to prepare them for acute health events.
P029: Are acute pain trajectories after an emergency department visit associated with chronic pain at 3 months?
Authors: Daoust R. , Paquet J. , Cournoyer A. , Piette E. , Morris J. , Lessard J. , Castonguay V. , Lavigne G. , Chauny J.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Studies suggest that acute pain evolution after an emergency department (ED) visit has been associated with the development of chronic pain. Using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM), we aimed to evaluate if ED discharged patients with similar pain intensity profiles of change over 14 days are associated with chronic pain at 3 months. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of patients aged 18 years or older who visited the ED for an acute pain condition (≤2 weeks) and were discharged with an opioid prescription. Patients completed a 14-day diary in which they listed their daily pain intensity level (0-10 numeric rating scale). Three months post-ED visit, participants were interviewed by phone to report their pain intensity related to the initial pain. Results: A total of 305 patients were retained at 3 months (mean age ± SD: 55 ± 15 years, 49% women). Using GBTM, six distinct pain intensity trajectories were identified during the first 14 days of the acute pain period; two linear one with moderate or severe pain during the follow-up (representing almost 40% of the patients) and four cubic polynomial order trajectories, with mild or no-pain at the end of the 14 days (low final pain). Twelve percent (11.9; ±95%CI: 8.2-15.4) of the patients had chronic pain at 3 months. Controlling for age, sex and types of pain condition, patients with trajectories of moderate or severe pain and those with only severe pain were 5.1 (95%CI: 2.2-11.8) and 8.2 (95%CI: 3.4-20.0) times more likely to develop chronic pain at 3 months, respectively, compared to the low final pain group. Conclusion: Trajectories could be useful to early identification of patients at risk of chronic pain.
P030: Acute pain resolution after an emergency department visit: a 14-day trajectory analysis
Authors: Daoust R. , Paquet J. , Cournoyer A. , Piette E. , Morris J. , Lessard J. , Castonguay V. , Lavigne G. , Chauny J.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: The objective of the study was to evaluate the acute pain intensity evolution in ED discharged patients using Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). This method identified patient groups with similar profiles of change over time without assuming the existence of a particular pattern or number of groups. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of ED patients aged ≥18 years with an acute pain condition (≤ 2 weeks) and discharged with an opioid prescription. Patients completed a 14-day diary assessing daily pain intensity level (0-10 numeric rating scale) and pain medication use. Results: Among the 372 included patients, six distinct post-ED pain intensity trajectories were identified: two started with severe levels of pain, one remained with severe pain intensity (12.6% of the sample) and the other ended with moderate pain intensity level (26.3%). Two other trajectories had severe initial pain, one decreased to mild pain (21.7%) and the other to no-pain (13.8%). Another trajectory had moderate initial pain which decreased to a mild level (15.9%) and the last one started with mild pain intensity and had no pain at the end of the 14-day (9.7%). The pain trajectory patterns were significantly associated with age, type of painful conditions, pain intensity at ED discharge, and with opioid consumption. Conclusion: Acute pain resolution following an ED visit seems to progress through six different trajectory patterns that are more informative than simple linear models and could be useful to adapt acute pain management in future research.
P033: Clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients presenting to a tertiary care centre emergency department with invasive Group A Streptococcus infections
Authors: Dudar K. , Littlefield S. , Garnett M.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the rate of invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) has more than doubled since it first became a notifiable disease in 2000. Our objectives were to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of iGAS in a geographic area that sees a relatively high volume of cases annually. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all adult and pediatric patients presenting to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Emergency Department from January 2016 to December 2017 with a hospital discharge diagnosis of iGAS infection using ICD-10 codes. Patient demographics, host characteristics, triage vital signs, laboratory values, culture sites, and disposition were analyzed using univariate and bivariate statistics. Results: Forty-five cases of iGAS were identified over 2 years, with a mean age of 45 years (SD 18). The most prevalent associations were male sex (69%), diabetes mellitus (44%), current or previous alcohol abuse (38%), and current or previous intravenous drug use (33%). Prevalence of iGAS was roughly two times the national average in 2016 (11.5 per 100,000) and four times the national average in 2017 (25.5 per 100,000). Mean triage vital signs included a systolic blood pressure of 126 mmHg (SD 24), diastolic blood pressure of 73 mmHg (SD 16), temperature of 37.3°C (SD 1.4), oxygen saturation of 97% (SD 2), heart rate of 113 beats per minute (SD 22), and respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute (SD 7). Mean laboratory values revealed a white blood cell count of 17,500 cells/μL (SD 9,800) and C-reactive protein of 243 mg/L (SD 144). A higher Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score was positively correlated with longer hospital length of stay (r = 0.46, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Despite its morbidity and mortality, iGAS infections often present insidiously with only mild abnormalities in triage vital signs, and require a high index of suspicion by the emergency physician for a prompt diagnosis, particularly in at-risk populations such as patients with diabetes mellitus or those who misuse alcohol or drugs.
P037: The Devil may not be in the detail - training first-responders to administer publicly available epinephrine – microskills checklists have low inter-observer reliability
Authors: Dunfield R. , Riley J. , Vaillancourt C. , Fraser J. , Woodland J. , French J. , Atkinson P.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Improving public access and training for epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) can reduce time to initial treatment in anaphylaxis. Effective use of EAIs by the public requires bystanders to respond in a timely and proficient manner. We wished to examine optimal methods for assessing effective training and skill retention for public use of EAIs, including the use of microskills lists. Methods: In this prospective, stratified randomized study, 154 participants at 15 sites receiving installation of public EAIs were randomized to one of three experimental education interventions: A) didactic poster (POS) teaching; B) poster with video teaching (VID), and C) Poster, video, and simulation training (SIM). Participants were tested by participation in a standardized simulated anaphylaxis scenario at 0-months, immediately following training, and again at follow-up at 3 months. Participants’ responses were videoed and assessed by two blinded raters using microksills checklists. The microskills lists were derived from the best available evidence and interprofessional process mapping using a skills trainer. The interobserver reliability was assessed for each item in a 14 step microskill checklist composed of 3-point and 5-point Likert scale questions around EpiPen use, expressed as Kappa Values. Results: Overall there was poor agreement between the two raters. Being composed or panicked had the highest level of agreement K = 0.7, but a result that did not reach statistical significance (substantial agreement, p = 0.06) calling for EMS support has the second highest level of agreement, K = 0.6 (moderate agreement, p = 0.01), the remainder of the items had very low to moderate agreement with a Kappa value range of -103 to 0.48. Conclusion: Although microskills chesklists have been shown to identify areas where learners and interprofessional teams require deliberate practice, these results support previously published evidence that the use of microskills checklists to assess skills has poor reproducibility. Performance will be further assessed in this study using global rating scales, which have shown higher levels of agreement in other studies.
P039: The iterative evaluation and development of a core and high-acuity low-occurrence simulation-based procedures training program for emergency medicine trainees
Authors: Dunne C. , Chalker J. , Bursey K. , Parsons M.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Competency-based skills development has driven the evolution of medical education. Simulation-based education is established as an essential tool to supplement clinical encounters and it provides the opportunity for low-stakes practice of common and high-acuity low-occurrence (HALO) procedures and scenarios. This is particularly important for emergency medicine trainees working to build confidence, knowledge, and skills in the field. Methods: In the procedural training sessions, learners rotate through 6 small-group stations over a 3-hour period. Skills topics are determined from faculty input, prior session feedback, and literature reviews. Topics included chest tubes, airway intervention, lumbar punctures and trauma interventions. Online content and brief written materials are used for pre-session learning. The small groups use hands-on faculty-guided training, with real-time feedback. Printed materials supplement key learning points at the stations. A combination of low-fidelity task trainers and simulated patients are used for practice and demonstration. R3 EM residents have the opportunity to mentor junior learners. Brief participant surveys are distributed at each session to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback. Results: Feedback forms were completed by 79/85 (92.9%) learners over a period of 4 years (2015-2018). Participants included medical students (11.8%), EM residents (52.9%), and non-EM residents (35.3%). 84.8% (67/79) gave positive qualitative feedback on the sessions, citing points such as the beneficial practice opportunities, quality of instruction, and utility of the models. Updated surveys (N = 26) used a 5-point Likert scale (1 = disagree strongly; 5 strongly agree) in addition to qualitative feedback. Participants indicated that sessions were valuable, and informative (M = 4.692, SD = 0.462; M = 4.270, SD = 0.710). They reported increased understanding of procedures discussed, and they were likely to recommend the session (M = 4.301, SD = 0.606; M = 4.808, SD = 0.394). Conclusion: The ongoing evaluation of our mentor guided hands-on low-fidelity and hybrid simulation-based procedural skills sessions facilitates meaningful programmatic changes to best meet the needs of EM learners. Sessions also provide a forum for EM resident mentorship of junior learners. Feedback indicates learners enjoyed the sessions and found this to be an engaging and effective instructional modality.
P045: Palliative care nurse specialist in the emergency department: a pilot project
Authors: Nichol K. , Galitzine L. , Kachuik L. , Madore S. , Olivier S. , Fischer L.
Published: May 2019

Background: Patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with unmet palliative care needs are often admitted to hospital and this can be a pivotal point in their subsequent health care journey. Literature from the United States supports the integration of palliative care resources in the ED and to our knowledge, this has yet to be done in a Canadian setting. Aim Statement: To develop, implement, and evaluate a model to support patients presenting to the ED with unmet palliative care needs. Measures & Design: A pilot project was implemented in one campus of the ED at a tertiary care academic center in Ottawa, Ontario. A palliative care nurse specialist was available for consultation with goals to: a) reduce admission to hospital for patients choosing to have a palliative approach to their care; b) increase coordination between ED and community resources; and c) be a resource for ED staff. Referral criteria were developed after systematic review of the literature and in consultation with palliative and emergency medicine experts. Evaluation/Results: Over the course of the study period (9 months), 50 referrals were made. The primary reason for referral was for increased community supports. Patient outcomes: 10 patients were discharged to hospice/palliative care units from the ED, 38 patients were discharged home. Of those discharged home, 66% had no returns to ED within 30 days. Qualitative feedback collected via pre and post survey has been extremely supportive from ED health care practitioners and community palliative care providers. Discussion/Impact: This ongoing project has led to positive, patient centered outcomes and decreased admission to acute care hospital. Ongoing evaluation will include consideration of Ontario Palliative Care Network quality indicators and cost-analysis to determine impact on health care system.
P053: Mismatches in pre-injury activities and return-to-activity advice received by concussion patients presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Gaudet L. , Eliyahu L. , Mrazik M. , Beach J. , Cummings G. , Voaklander D. , Rowe B.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Patients with concussion often present to the emergency department (ED). Current guidelines recommend graded return to work and physical activity (i.e., sport, recreation and exercise activities); however, whether emergency physicians target this advice based on patient-reported activities is unknown. This study aimed to assess mismatches between physicians’ rest and return-to-activity advice and self-reported pre-injury work and physical activity of adult concussion patients. Methods: Adults (>17 years) presenting with a concussion from April 2013 to April 2015 to a study ED with Glasgow coma scale score ≥13 were recruited by on-site research assistants. Data on patient characteristics (i.e., age, sex, employment, and physical activity level) and activity leading to injury were collected from structured patient interviews. A structured questionnaire collected data from the treating physician about discharge advice provided. “Working” was defined as employed or enrolled in any level of school at the time of injury. “Physically active” was defined by reporting regular exercise (≥2 times a week) or concussed during a sports-related activity. Proportions or medians (interquartile range [IQR]) are reported, as appropriate. Results: Physician questionnaires were completed for 198/248 enrolled patients (median age: 37 years [IQR: 23, 49]; 46% male). Overall, 89% (177/198) were working; 110/177 (62%) received return-to-work advice, while 10/21 (48%) patients also received return-to-work advice, despite not working. Mentally strenuous work/school duties were reported by 143 patients, of which 85 (60%) were recommended cognitive rest. Overall, 148 patients were physically active and 115 (78%) of these were recommended physical rest while 124 (82%) were advised on safe return to physical activity. On the other hand, 35/50 (70%) patients who were not physically active received advice on safe return to physical activity. Sustaining a sports-related injury significantly increased the likelihood of safe return to physical activity advice among physically active patients (Fisher's exact p = 0.001). Conclusion: There is a mismatch between concussed patients’ pre-injury activities, and the rest and return-to-activity (i.e., work and physical activity) advice provided by emergency physicians. The possible effect of this mismatch on patient outcomes should be assessed in future research, as should strategies to improve emergency physician-patient communications around concussion management.
P055: Quality assessment and improvement evaluation of return visits to the emergency department for ultrasound
Authors: Giffin D. , Van Aarsen K. , Brine M. , Church K. , Fotheringham M. , Pillon S. , Poss C. , Price L. , Dukelow A. , Dreyer J.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Depending on the time and day of initial Emergency Department (ED) presentation, some patients may require a return to the ED the following day for ultrasound examination. Return visits for ultrasound may be time and resource intensive for both patients and the ED. Qualitative experience suggests that a percentage of return ultrasounds could be performed at a non-ED facility. Our objective was to undertake a retrospective audit of return for ultrasound usage, patterns and outcomes at 2 academic EDs. Methods: A retrospective review of all adult patients returning to the ED for ultrasound at both LHSC ED sites in 2016 was undertaken. Each chart was independently reviewed by two emergency medicine consultants. Charts were assessed for day and time of initial presentation and return, type of ultrasound ordered, and length of ED stay on initial presentation and return visit. Opinion based questions were considered by reviewers, including urgency of diagnosis clarification required, if symptoms were still present on return, and if any medical or surgical treatment or follow up was arranged based on ultrasound results. Agreement between reviewers was assessed. Results: After eliminating charts for which the return visit was not for a scheduled ultrasound examination, 328 patient charts were reviewed. 63% of patients were female and median [IQR] age was 40 years [27-56]. Abdomen/pelvis represented 50% of the ultrasounds; renal 24%; venous Doppler 15.9%. Symptoms were still present and documented in 79% of cases. 22% of cases required a medical intervention and 9% an immediate surgical intervention. 11% of patients were admitted to hospital on their return visit. Outpatient follow-up based on US results was initiated in 29% of cases. Median [IQR] combined LOS was 479.5 minutes [358.5-621.75]. Agreement between reviewers for opinion based questions was poor (63%-96%). Conclusion: Ideally, formal ultrasound should be available on a 24 hour basis for ED patients in order to avoid return visits. A percentage of return for ultrasound examinations do not result in any significant change in treatment. Emergency departments should consider the development of pathways to avoid return visits for follow up ultrasound when possible. The low incidence of surgical treatment in those returning for US suggests that this population could be served in a non-hospital setting. Further research is required to support this conclusion.
P056: Is lumbar puncture mandatory in the workup of infants 22 to 60 days old presenting to the emergency department with a fever without a source?
Authors: Gravel G. , Vachon K. , Giguère M. , Lajeunesse L. , Morin J. , Ouellet-Pelletier J. , Turgeon R. , Mallet M. , Berthelot S.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Fever is a common presenting complaint in the emergency department (ED). Febrile infants are at particularly high risk of serious bacterial infection including bacterial meningitis. Unfortunately, recommendations as to when to perform a lumbar puncture in febrile infants older than 21 days remain conflicting. Our study seeks to establish the prevalence of bacterial meningitis in infants 22 to 60 days old and to evaluate the performance of our local fever without a source (FWS) workup protocol at identifying bacterial meningitis. Methods: This analysis represents the results of a retrospective cohort study which took place in an academic pediatric ED in Quebec City. Infants 22 to 60 days old investigated for FWS, were included in the study. Premature infants ( <37 weeks), as well as infants with chronic diseases, immunodeficiency, previous antimicrobial therapy, in-dwelling catheters, or septic shock were excluded. We evaluated the performance of our local FWS workup protocol which includes the Yale Scale, a complete blood count, blood culture, C-reactive protein, urinalysis and urine culture. The protocol recommends a lumbar puncture in all febrile infants <1 month old, and in all infants <3 months old with either leukocytes <5.0 or >15.0 X 10^9cells/L, petechia, or a Yale between 11 and 16. Results: We reviewed 1261 charts from 2012 to 2017, of which 920 met our inclusion criteria. In our cohort, 171 infants were 22 to 30 days old, 369 were 31 to 45 days old, and 380 were 46 to 60 days old. The proportion of infants with cerebrospinal fluid analysis in these 3 groups was 76% (n = 130), 25% (n = 98) and 12% (n = 46) respectively. In the entire cohort, two infants were diagnosed with bacterial meningitis resulting in a prevalence of 0.2% (95%CI: 0-0.5%); viral meningitis had a prevalence of 4.7% (95%CI: 3.3-6.1%). Sensitivity and specificity of the protocol were 100% and 52.8%; positive and negative predictive values were 0.4% and 100%, respectively. All charts were reviewed for 2 weeks following the index visit to screen for missed cases of bacterial meningitis. Conclusion: Systematically performing a lumbar puncture for workup of fever without a source in infants 22 to 60 days old appears unwarranted given the low prevalence of bacterial meningitis in this population. Our FWS workup protocol correctly identified the 2 cases of bacterial meningitis in our cohort. This is an ongoing study and more cases will be recruited to better evaluate the safety and performance of our protocol.
P057: Evidence-based medicine (EBM) simulation: teaching real-time literature searching to emergency medicine residents using a flipped classroom and high-fidelity simulation
Authors: Gray I. , Dong S. , Ha D.
Published: May 2019

Innovation Conept: Evidence-based medicine (EBM), including literature search skills, is an objective of the Emergency Medicine (EM) residency curriculum. Traditional teaching of this topic utilized a classroom-based, librarian-lead session that presented an overview of many search engines. Feedback from past sessions indicated that learners retained little after the session. To be effective, EBM needs to be brought to the bedside. We created a session to engage EM residents and improve their efficiency in literature searching during an EM shift. Methods: We conducted a needs assessment among EM residents in our program. In response to this and to maximize impact of teaching, we created an EBM workshop on literature searching that used a flipped classroom approach and high-fidelity simulation. The session was designed for a small group (12 junior residents), with the goals of being interactive, engaging and practice-relevant. Feedback was collected on the simulation experience. Curriculum, Tool or Material: With a librarian, we created a brief list of EM-relevant databases. It included tips for searching and links to the corresponding sites / apps. Students received the list 7 days prior and were instructed to set up the resources on their smartphones. Pre-readings also covered the hierarchy of evidence and formulating a good clinical (PICO) question. All students participated in the high-fidelity simulation, with one volunteer leader. The case involved a stable patient. Residents proceeded with initial case assessment until they faced a management decision that required a literature search. All residents participated on their smart phones. Collectively, it took 5 minutes to find a study that adequately addressed the clinical question. The patient was managed accordingly and symptoms resolved. Feedback on the simulation was abundantly positive. Students found it engaging, practical and realistic. It helped them learn to efficiently search the literature while managing a stable patient. Conclusion: Using a multi-modal teaching strategy that includes simulation makes teaching EBM literature searching more interesting, engaging and applicable to EM practice. Future work will look at creating further sessions to reinforce and promote retention of key concepts and integrate them into EM practice.
P065: Emergency department staff perceived need and preferred methods for communication skills training
Authors: Howlett M. , Mostofa M. , Talbot J. , Fraser J. , Atkinson P.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Burnout includes emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA). Emergency Department (ED) staff have high levels of burnout that may be responsive to communication skills training. We surveyed ED staff perception of need and efficacy before and after an intervention using an established conflict resolution methodology. Methods: ED physicians, nurses and support staff were surveyed at two regional hospitals using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and a communications questionnaire to establish the perceived need for communication skill training. Participants from one center were provided with a communications intervention (Crucial Conversations®, VitalSmarts®), and a refresher course 6-15 months later. The survey was then repeated at both sites and course participant feedback was elicited. Results: MBI results were high (mean EE = 25.25 (high > 25), 95% CI = 22.5-28; DP = 11.6 (high > 8), 95% CI = 10.1-13.2; PA = 35.85 (low <34), 95% CI = 34.3-37.4). Initially 82% of intervention and 77% of control site participants responded that “attending an educational session about ways to communicate better would help the participants at work”. Post intervention group responses to “The program will be helpful to me in communicating more effectively in my work environment” were: 75% “strongly agree” and 25% “agree”. No rating below “agree” was assigned by any of the participants. Participants preferred facilitated small group simulations and advocated for earlier career implementation. Conclusion: There was a perceived need for and impact from communication skills training for ED staff with high measured burnout. Training may be best implemented in small group simulated encounters and in health professional education curriculum or as part of work orientation.
P071: A three-year analysis of adult protection patients in the emergency department
Authors: Kelly N. , Crooks C. , Campbell S. , Daniels N.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: While boarding of patients in the emergency department (ED) has been well documented and is carefully monitored, the time spent in emergency beds by patients waiting for Adult Protection (AP) placement is often relatively unnoticed, as they are not flagged as ‘admitted’. These patients have no emergency needs, yet consume considerable ED resources, often in excess of patients requiring emergency care. Staff familiarity with this issue may also bias them to premature diagnostic closure of patients as ‘placement problems’, risking misdiagnosis of active medical conditions. An observational study to retrospectively quantify the time spent in the ED by patients referred to AP services for urgent placement from the ED. Methods: A three-year audit of ED social work records of patients referred for AP. Results: For the period of October 1 2015-September 30, 2018, the ED social work service kept records of patients referred for AP from the ED. During this period, a total of 142 patients were referred to AP (40, 50, and 52 in each year respectively). There was an increase of 10 patients between 2015/16 and 2016/17 and two patients from 2016/17 to 2017/18. The overall length of stay for this subset of ED patients during this three-year period was alarmingly high, with an average length of stay of four days per patient (range 2.7 hours-18.5 days) compared to an average of all patients of 4.9 hours and admitted patients of 13.6 hours. Conclusion: Patients in the ED who are referred to AP services consume considerable ED resources, often requiring complete medical work-up, capacity assessments and close monitoring by multiple emergency personnel. This has been reported to cause considerable stress and friction between staff and consulting services. Furthermore, these patients are poorly served in a hectic, brightly lit, and noisy environment. The impact is often not fully appreciated due to ineffective capture by patient tracking systems.
P073: Consultations in the emergency department: a systematic review
Authors: Kirkland S. , Gaudet L. , Keto-Lambert D. , Rowe B.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: While consultation is a common and important aspect of emergency department (ED) care, a previous systematic review identified significant utilization and process variation across ED's. The aim of this review update was to examine the proportion of the patients undergoing consultation in the ED among recent studies. Methods: Eight primary literature databases and the grey literature were searched. Studies published from 2007 to 2018 focusing on all-comers to the ED and reporting a consultation-related outcome were included. Disease- and specialty-specific studies were not eligible. Two independent reviewers screened studies for relevance, inclusion, quality assessment, and data extraction. Disagreements were resolved through consensus. Means, medians and interquartile ranges are reported. Wilcoxon-rank sum test and one-way ANOVA were used to identify differences between groups, as appropriate. Results: A total of 2632 unique citations and 49 studies from the grey literature were screened, of which 29 primary studies were included. Fifteen studies reported on the proportion of ED patients undergoing consultation, involving EDs in the Middle East (n = 4), North America (n = 4), Asia (n = 4), and Europe (n = 3). Overall, the proportion of patients receiving consultation ranged from 7% to 78% (median: 26%; IQR: 20%, 38%). There were no differences in the proportions of consulted patients based on country of origin. Ten studies were conducted prior to 2013, while five studies recruited patients during and after 2013. The mean proportion of consulted patients was lower for post-2012 studies compared to pre-2012 studies (mean: 18% vs. 36%; p = 0.0048). The proportion of consulted patients admitted to hospital ranged considerably between the 14 reporting studies (median: 56%; IQR: 49%, 76%). No differences in the proportion of admitted patients undergoing a consult were identified based on country of origin or year of recruitment for the study. Conclusion: Although consultation utilization appears to be decreasing overall, there is considerable practice variation in EDs around the world. These differences may result from variation in patient acuity, case-load, staffing levels, institutional and health-system organization, and medical training and future research should explore reasons for these differences.
P078: An environmental scan of quality improvement and patient safety activities in emergency medicine in Canada
Authors: Kwok E. , Perry J. , Mondoux S. , Chartier L.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) activities in healthcare have become increasingly important, but it is unclear what the current national landscape is with regards to how individual EM departments are supporting QIPS activities and evaluating their success and sustainability. We sought to assess how Canadian medical school EM departments/divisions and major Canadian teaching hospitals approach QIPS programs and efforts, with regards to training, available infrastructure, education, scholarly activities, and perceived needs. Methods: We developed 2 electronic surveys through expert panel consensus to assess important themes identified by the CAEP QIPS Committee, including a)formal training/skill capacity; b)operational infrastructure; c)educational activities; d)academic and scholarship, and e)perceived gaps and needs. Surveys were pilot-tested and revised by authors. “Survey 1” (21 questions) was sent by email to all 17 Canadian medical school affiliated EM Department Chairs and Academic Hospitals Department Chiefs; “Survey 2” (33 questions) to 11 identified local QIPS leads in these hospitals. This was followed by 2 monthly email reminders to participate in the survey. We present descriptive statistics including proportions, means, medians and ranges where appropriate. Results: 22/70 (31.4%) Department Chairs/Chiefs completed Survey 1. Most (81.8%) reported formal positions dedicated to QIPS activities within their groups, with a mixed funding model. Less than half of these positions have dedicated logistical support. 11/12 (91.7%) local QIPS leads completed Survey 2. Two-thirds (63.6%) reported explicit QIPS topics within residency curricula, but only 9.1% described QIPS training for staff physicians. 45% of respondents described successful academic scholarship output, with the total number of peer-reviewed QIPS-related publications per center ranging from 1-10 over the past 5 years. A minority of participants reported access to academic supports: methodologists (27.3%), administrative personnel (27.3%), and statisticians (9.1%). Conclusion: This environmental scan provides a snapshot of QIPS activities in EM across academic centers in Canada. We found significant local educational and academic efforts, although there is a discrepancy between the level of formal support/infrastructure and such activities. There remains opportunity to further advance QIPS efforts on a national level, as well as advocating and supporting local QIPS activities.
P081: Distribution of take home naloxone in Edmonton zone emergency departments between January 2016 and December 2017
Authors: Lam N. , Olmstead A. , Ha D. , Gauri A.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Morbidity and mortality from opioid overdoses continue to be a significant issue worldwide. In Alberta, there was a 40% increase in accidental opioid-related deaths from 2016 to 2017. In response to this crisis, Alberta Health Services has dramatically expanded access to Naloxone with a province-wide program for the distribution of take-home naloxone (THN) kits. Edmonton Zone ED's began dispensing these kits in 2016. The objectives of this study are to assess the trends in THN kit distribution from these sites in 2016 and 2017. Methods: The Edmonton Zone is a health region that comprises eleven tertiary, urban community and rural community ED's. THN kits in Edmonton Zone ED's were distributed through Pyxis, an automated medication dispensing and tracking system. Pyxis data for THN kits in 2016 and 2017 was extracted for each Edmonton Zone ED and the raw numbers and trends were examined. The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database was also analyzed to determine the number of opioid related visits to Edmonton Zone ED's over that same time period. Results: A total of 686 THN kits in the Edmonton Zone were distributed over 2016 and 2017. The two tertiary centers distributed 502 kits, while the urban and rural community emergency departments collectively distributed 184 kits. Comparing 2016 (n = 245) to 2017 (n = 441), there was an 80% overall increase in the number of kits distributed, with tertiary center ED's dispensing 92% more kits, urban community ED's 51% more and rural ED's 63% more. Over the same time period, the number of opioid related visits increased in tertiary center ED's by 78%, in urban community sites by 26%, and in rural ED's by 67%. Almost all ED's increased their THN kit distribution from year to year, though there was one urban community site that dispensed fewer kits in the second year of the program. Conclusion: Edmonton Zone ED's dispensed 686 THN kits over two calendar years. Almost every ED distributed more kits in 2017 than 2016, which likely reflects successful uptake of this harm reduction intervention by frontline ED staff. However, there is still evidence of some imbalance in THN kit allocation as the percent increase in kits distributed varied widely based on the type of ED. This data can be used to pinpoint areas in the Edmonton Zone where barriers to THN access may still exist and guide continued quality improvement interventions to increase distribution and education.
P082: Predictive ability of the quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score among patients with infection transported by paramedics: a Bayesian analysis
Authors: Alex Love S. , Lane D.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: The quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score was developed to provide clinicians with a quick assessment for patients with latent organ failure possibly consistent with sepsis at high-risk for mortality. With the clinical heterogeneity of patients presenting with sepsis, a Bayesian validation approach may provide a better understanding of its clinical utility. This study used a Bayesian analysis to assess the prediction of hospital mortality by the qSOFA score among patients with infection transported by paramedics. Methods: A one-year cohort of adult patients transported by paramedics in a large, provincial EMS system was linked to Emergency Department (ED) and hospital administrative databases, then restricted to those patients with an ED diagnosed infection. A Bayesian binomial regression model was constructed using Hamiltonian Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo sampling, normal priors for each parameter, the calculated score, age and sex as the predictors, and hospital mortality as the outcome. Discrimination was assessed using posterior predictions to calculate a “Bayesian” C statistic, and calibration was assessed with calibration plots of the observed and predicted probability distributions. The independent predictive ability of each measure was tested by including each component measure (respiratory rate, Glasgow Coma Scale, and systolic blood pressure) as continuous predictors in a second model. Results: A total of 9,920 patients with ED diagnosed infection were included. 264 (2.7%) patients were admitted directly to the ICU, and 955 (9.6%) patients died in-hospital. As independent predictors, the probability of mortality increased as each measure became more extreme, with the Glasgow Coma Scale predicting the greatest change in mortality risk from a high to low score; however, no dramatic change in the probability supporting a single decision threshold was seen for any measure. For the calculated score, the C statistic for predicting mortality was 0.728. The calibration curve had no overlap of predictions, with a probability of 0.5 (50% credible interval 0.47-0.53) for patients with a qSOFA score of 3. Conclusion: Although no single decision threshold was identified for each component measure, a calculated qSOFA score provides good prediction of mortality for patients with ED diagnosed infection. When validating clinical prediction scores, a Bayesian approach may be used to assess probabilities of interest for clinicians to support better clinical decision making. Character count 2494
P089: Multimodal oral analgesia for non-severe trauma patients: feasibility and evaluation of a triage-nurse directed protocol combining low-dose methoxyflurane, paracetamol and oxycodone
Authors: Maignan M. , Verdetti A. , Termoz Masson N. , Falcon C. , Mabiala Makele P. , Collomb Muret R. , Viglino D.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Insufficient analgesia affects around 50% of emergency department patients. The use of a protocol helps to reduce the risk of oligoanalgesia in this context. Our objective was to describe the feasibility and efficacy of a multimodal analgesia protocol (combining paracetamol, oxycodone, and inhaled low-dose methoxyflurane) initiated by triage nurse. Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study in the emergency department at Grenoble Alpes University Hospital (Grenoble, France) between October 2017 and April 2018. Non severe adult trauma patients with a numerical pain rating scale (NRS) score ≥4 and receiving MEOF were included. The primary efficacy criterion was the proportion of patients with an NRS score ≤3 at 15min post-administration. Pain intensity was measured for 60 min as well as during radiography. Data on adverse events and satisfaction were also recorded. Data are presented as median [interquartile (IQR)] and were compared using non parametric tests. Results: A total of 200 adult patients were included (age: 32 [IQR: 23–49] years; 126 men (63%)). Patients presented at triage with a pain score of 7 [IQR: 6-8]. Sixty-six patients (33%) reported an NRS score ≤3 at 15 min post-administration. The time required to achieve a decrease of at least 2 points in the NRS score was 10 [IQR 5–20] min. The pain intensity was 4 [IQR: 2–5] before radiography and 4 [IQR: 2–6] during radiography. Adverse events were frequent (n = 128, 64%), mainly dizziness. No serious adverse events were reported and 89% of minor adverse events resolved at one hour. Both patients and health care providers reported good levels of satisfaction. Conclusion: The administration of a nurse-driven multimodal analgesia protocol combining paracetamol, oxycodone, and low-dose methoxyflurane was feasible on triage. It rapidly produced long-lasting analgesia in adult trauma patients.
P090: A scoping review on patient race, ethnicity, and care in the emergency department
Authors: Owens A. , Holroyd B. , McLane P.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Health disparities between racial and ethnic groups have been well documented in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Despite evidence that differences in emergency department (ED) care based on patient race and ethnicity exist, there is a lack of scientific reviews in this important area. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the literature on the impact of patient race and ethnicity on ED care. Methods: A scoping review guided by the framework described by Arksey and O'Malley was undertaken. This approach was taken because it was best suited to the goal of providing an overview of all of the literature, given the broad nature of the topic. All studies with primary outcomes considering the impact of patient race and ethnicity on “throughput” factors in the ED as defined by Asplin et al., were considered. Outcomes considered included triage scores, wait times, analgesia, diagnostic testing, treatment, leaving without being seen, and patient experiences. Literature from Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand was considered. A database search protocol was developed iteratively as familiarity with the literature developed. Inclusion and exclusion decisions were made using an established model. Results: The original search yielded 1157 citations, reduced to 453 after duplicate removal. 153 full texts were included for screening, of which 85 were included for final data extraction. Results indicate there is evidence that minority racial and ethnic groups experience disparities in triage scores, wait times, analgesia, treatment, diagnostic testing, leaving without being seen, and subjective experiences. Authors’ suggested explanations for these disparities can be placed in the following categories: (1) communication differences; (2) conscious or unconscious bias; (3) facility and resource factors in hospitals with higher minority presentation rates; and (4) differences in clinical presentations. Conclusion: This scoping review provides an overview of the literature on the impacts of race and ethnicity on ED care. As disparities have been shown to exist in numerous contexts, further research on the impact of race and ethnicity in ED care is warranted, especially in the Canadian literature. Such explorations could aid in the informing and creation of policy, and guide practice.