Publications by authors named "Amy Sweeny"

Aim: Children and their families have reported peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion as the most stressful part of their emergency department (ED) encounter, with some enduring multiple attempts without a successful insertion. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with abandonment of paediatric PIVC insertion.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

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Objectives: Although it is the most performed invasive procedure, peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion in children can be difficult. The primary objective of the study was to identify the factors associated with difficult intravenous access (DIVA) in the paediatric ED, including patient, proceduralist and situational factors.

Methods: This was a single-centre prospective observational cohort study conducted over 28 consecutive days.

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Background: Emergency department (ED) clinicians are more frequently providing care, including end-of-life care, to older people.

Objectives: To estimate the need for ED end-of-life care for people aged ≥65 years, describe characteristics of those dying within 48 hours of ED presentation and compare those dying in ED with those dying elsewhere.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study analysing data from 177 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand.

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Objective: There is substantial practice variation in the management of cellulitis with limited prospective studies describing the course of cellulitis after diagnosis. We aimed to describe the demographics, clinical features (erythema, warmth, swelling and pain), patient-reported disease trajectory and medium-term follow-up for ED patients with cellulitis.

Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of adults diagnosed with cellulitis in two EDs in Southeast Queensland, Australia.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health-related emergency department (ED) presentations, focusing on medium-term effects after initial decreases in such visits.
  • Researchers analyzed data from three periods: before the pandemic, during the statewide lockdown, and after restrictions were eased, comparing actual ED visits to pre-pandemic predictions.
  • Results showed that overall mental health ED presentations were lower than expected throughout the pandemic, with notable decreases for anxiety disorders and increases for eating disorders, highlighting the need for alternative mental health care options.
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Background: Identifying factors predictive of hospital admission can be useful to prospectively inform bed management and patient flow strategies and decrease emergency department (ED) crowding. It is largely unknown if admission rate or factors predictive of admission vary based on the population to which the ED served (i.e.

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Objectives: To describe the characteristics of, and care provided to, older people who died within 48 h of ED presentation.

Methods: A descriptive retrospective cohort study of people 65 years and older presenting to two EDs in Queensland, Australia, between April 2018 and March 2019. Data from electronic medical records were collected and analysed.

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Antibiotic overprescribing is a global issue that significantly contributes to increased antimicrobial resistance. Strengthening antimicrobial prescribing practices should be considered a priority. The emergency department (ED) represents a setting where antibiotics are frequently prescribed, but the determinants that influence prescribing choices are complex and multifaceted.

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Introduction/purpose: Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion can be challenging in children, with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) known to increase success rates. The objective of this study was to survey how emergency department (ED) clinicians identify and escalate paediatric patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA), specifically the use of POCUS.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an Australian academic mixed ED that surveyed resident medical officers (RMOs), registrars, consultants and senior paediatric nurses.

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Animal sociality emerges from individual decisions on how to balance the costs and benefits of being sociable. Novel pathogens introduced into wildlife populations should increase the costs of sociality, selecting against gregariousness. Using an individual-based model that captures essential features of pathogen transmission among social hosts, we show how novel pathogen introduction provokes the rapid evolutionary emergence and coexistence of distinct social movement strategies.

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Screening for domestic violence in healthcare settings increases detection. The emergency department (ED) is one setting where victims frequently attend with injuries and illnesses sustained from violence. However, screening rates remain suboptimal.

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Objective: Occupational violence in emergency departments (EDs) impacts staff and patients. Most hospitals have a response mechanism called a 'Code Black' or similar. We aimed to determine the incidence of Code Black activations in a tertiary ED and describe contributory factors, management strategies and adverse events.

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Objective: To determine the impact of the COVID-19 state-wide lockdown on ED presentations for older adults in Queensland, Australia.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study pertaining to adults aged 70+ years who presented to Queensland public hospital EDs across three separate time periods; 11 March to 30 June 2018 and 2019 (pre-pandemic average), 2020 (COVID-19 state-wide lockdown) and 2021 (post-state-wide lockdown). The primary outcome was change in presentation rates to ED.

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Objectives: To assess emergency department (ED) presentation numbers in Queensland during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to mid-2021, a period of relatively low COVID-19 case numbers.

Design: Interrupted time series analysis.

Setting: All 105 Queensland public hospital EDs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Long-term ecological studies are crucial for understanding the impact of parasites on host organisms, revealing how infection prevalence and abundance change over time.
  • A 31-year study on wild Soay sheep in St. Kilda showed an increase in the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, particularly strongyle nematodes and coccidia, which affected different age groups differently.
  • The study found that host population density influenced parasite transmission significantly, but the temporal changes in parasite abundance varied independently of this density and highlighted notable trends, especially in lambs.
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Objectives: The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block was first described for analgesia of hip fracture in 2018. We hypothesised that the PENG block is safe and effective for patients with hip fracture when provided by emergency physicians and trainees in the ED.

Methods: This was an observational study of routine care.

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