Publications by authors named "Catherine Macbean"
Objective: To determine factors associated with failure to successfully complete a procedure during sedation in the ED.
Methods: Eleven Australian EDs enrolled consecutive adult and paediatric patients between January 2006 and December 2008. Patients were included if a sedative drug was administered for an ED procedure and the success or failure of the procedure was recorded.
Objective: To determine the nature, incidence and risk factors for sedation-related events during ED procedural sedation, with particular focus on the drugs administered.
Methods: Eleven Australian EDs enrolled consecutive adult and paediatric patients between January 2006 and December 2008. Patients were included if a sedative drug was administered for an ED procedure.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to describe procedural sedation practices undertaken in a spectrum of Australian EDs.
Methods: Eleven Australian EDs enrolled consecutive adult and paediatric patients between January 2006 and December 2008. Patients were included if a sedative drug was administered for an ED procedure.
Objective: To determine whether renal colic incidence in the temperate environment of Melbourne, Australia, varies with ambient temperature and season.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with renal colic who presented, between 1999 and 2005 inclusive, to a Victorian inner city emergency department. The emergency department database was interrogated to identify patients with an International Classification of Diseases 10th revision diagnostic code of renal colic.
Objective: To compare the nature of therapeutic errors made by adults in community residential units (CRU) and private homes (Home).
Methods: This was an analytical case series of therapeutic errors, involving adults, reported to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre (January 2006 to March 2007). The main outcome measures were the nature, causes and outcomes of the errors and actions taken or recommendations for avoidance.
Aim: This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of therapeutic errors among children in the community setting.
Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of 491 consecutive cases reported to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, between January 2006 and March 2007. A total of 450 (91.
Patients who leave the ED without being seen (LWBS) are unlikely to be satisfied with the quality of the service provided and might be at risk from conditions that have not been assessed or treated. We therefore examined the available research literature to inform the following questions: (i) In patients who attend for ED care, what factors are associated with the decision to LWBS? (ii) In patients who attend for ED care, are there adverse health outcomes associated with the decision to LWBS? (iii) Which interventions have been used to try to reduce the number of patients who attend for ED care and LWBS? From the available literature, there was insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions; however, the literature does suggest that patients who LWBS have conditions of lower urgency and lower acuity, are more likely to be male and younger, and are likely to identify prolonged waiting times as a central concern. LWBS patients generally have very low rates of subsequent admission, and reports of serious adverse events are rare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the viability of prehospital noninvasive ventilation (NIV) as a prelude to a definitive clinical trial.
Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients (aged > 55 years, severe shortness of breath) transported to a tertiary emergency department (10/5/03-12/28/04). Data were extracted from paramedic and hospital medical records.
Objective: To evaluate change in handheld mobile telephone (mobile) use among motor vehicle drivers between 2002 and 2006.
Design And Setting: Observational study of motor vehicle drivers at three times (10:00-11:00; 14:00-15:00; 17:00-18:00) on three consecutive Tuesdays in October 2006 at 12 highway sites in metropolitan Melbourne.
Main Outcome Measures: Rates of handheld mobile use overall and by the sex and age of drivers, highway site (major metropolitan road, central business district, freeway exit ramp) and time of day.
Handover in the emergency department: deficiencies and adverse effects.
Emerg Med Australas
October 2007
Objective: To determine problems resulting from ED handover, deficiencies in current procedures and whether patient care or ED processes are adversely affected.
Methods: A prospective observational study at three large metropolitan ED comprising three components: observation of handover sessions, 2 h post-handover surveys of the receiving doctors and a general survey of ED doctors.
Results: The handovers of 914 patients were observed during 60 handover sessions in a 3-month period.
Aims: To determine patterns of local anaesthetic use, knowledge and perceived use of local anaesthetic by emergency department doctors, and barriers to bupivacaine use.
Methods: This was a multifaceted, observational study undertaken at two large metropolitan emergency departments. It comprised a retrospective chart review of patients who had been given local anaesthetic in the emergency department, an examination of ordering records of local anaesthetics in the emergency department, and a cross-sectional survey of emergency department doctors.
Objective: To describe the epidemiology of mammal (human and non-human) bite injuries in Victoria.
Participants, Design And Setting: Retrospective case series of injuries recorded in the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset (VEMD) (1998-2004) and deaths recorded in the National Coroners Information System (1 July 2000 - 1 June 2006).
Main Outcome Measures: Frequency, nature and outcome of injury as a function of mammal, victim demographics and season.