Performance of the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool in a resource-constrained emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) is a three-tier triage instrument recommended by the World Health Organization, but only the pilot version of the tool has been comprehensively assessed for its validity and reliability. This study sought to evaluate the performance of the IITT in a resource-constrained emergency department (ED) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at ANGAU Memorial Provincial Hospital in Lae, Papua New Guinea.

Multimodal learning for emergency department triage implementation: experiences from Papua New Guinea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Triage implementation in resource-limited emergency departments (EDs) has traditionally relied on intensive in-person training. This study sought to evaluate the impact of a novel digital-based learning strategy focused on the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool, a three-tier triage instrument recommended by the World Health Organization.

Methods: A mixed methods study utilising pre-post intervention methods was conducted in two EDs in Papua New Guinea.

Raising the D-dimer threshold for ruling out pulmonary embolism: A single-site, observational study with a historical comparison.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of introduction of a new pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnostic guideline with a raised D-dimer threshold.

Methods: This is a single-site, observational, cohort study with a historical comparison. The new guideline raised the D-dimer threshold to 1000 ng/mL for most patients with a Wells' score of 4 or less.

Emergency department triage and COVID-19: Performance of the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool during a pandemic surge in Papua New Guinea.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity of the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool to identify severe and critical illness among adult patients with COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective observational study conducted at Port Moresby General Hospital ED during a three-month Delta surge.

Results: Among 387 eligible patients with COVID-19, 63 were diagnosed with severe or critical illness.

Validity and reliability of the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool in a regional emergency department in Papua New Guinea.

Objective: The Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) is a novel, three-tier triage system recommended by the World Health Organization. The present study sought to assess the validity and reliability of a pilot version of the tool in a resource-limited ED in regional Papua New Guinea.

Methods: This pragmatic prospective observational study, conducted at Mount Hagen Provincial Hospital, commenced 1 month after IITT implementation.

Validation of the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool in a resource-limited, urban emergency department in Papua New Guinea: a pilot study.

Background: The Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) is a three-tier triage system designed for resource-limited emergency care (EC) settings. This study sought to assess the validity and reliability of a pilot version of the tool in an urban emergency department (ED) in Papua New Guinea.

Methods: A pragmatic observational study was conducted at Gerehu General Hospital in Port Moresby, commencing eight weeks after IITT implementation.

Personality, staff attitudes and their association with absenteeism and presenteeism in Australian public sector hospital-based nurses: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: To examine how personality and attitudes to sick leave influence nurses self-reported rates of absenteeism and presenteeism.

Background: Despite the significant economic cost and negative impact of absenteeism and presenteeism in health care, there has been limited research looking at personality (using the five-factor model) and absenteeism and presenteeism in nurses.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 320 nurses.

Implementation of a novel three-tier triage tool in Papua New Guinea: A model for resource-limited emergency departments.

In emergency departments (EDs), demand for care often exceeds the available resources. Triage addresses this problem by sorting patients into categories of urgency. The Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) is a novel triage system designed for resource-limited emergency care (EC) settings.

Expanding the Tool Kit of Automated Flow Synthesis: Development of In-line Flash Chromatography Purification.

Recent advancements in in-line extraction and purification technology have enabled complex multistep synthesis in continuous flow reactor systems. However, for the large scope of chemical reactions that yield mixtures of products or residual starting materials, off-line purification is still required to isolate the desired compound. We present the in-line integration of a commercial automated flash chromatography system with a flow reactor for the continuous synthesis and isolation of product(s).

Medication adherence assessment practices in dialysis settings: A survey of renal nurses' perceptions.

Aims And Objectives: To measure renal nurses' perceptions on assessing medication adherence in patients undergoing dialysis.

Background: Renal nurses play a vital role in caring for patients undergoing dialysis. Despite the high prevalence of medication nonadherence in chronic dialysis patients, little is known about renal nurses' perceptions and current adherence assessment practices.

Renal pharmacists' perceptions and current practices of assessing medication adherence in dialysis patients.

Unlabelled: Background Medication nonadherence is a major problem in chronic kidney failure patients undergoing dialysis. Pharmacists play a vital role in improving medication-related patient outcomes, reducing drug-related problems, and improving medication adherence. However, little is known about how pharmacists assess medication adherence in dialysis patients.

Free Open Access Medical Education resource knowledge and utilisation amongst Emergency Medicine trainees: A survey in four countries.

Introduction Free Open Access Medical Education encompasses a broad array of free online resources and discussion fora. The aim of this paper was to describe whether Emergency Medicine trainees in different contexts know about Free Open Access Medical Education, whether or not they know about its different platforms, which ones they use, and what the major barriers to regular usage are. Methods A convenience sample was surveyed on awareness and use of Free Open Access Medical Education blogs, podcasts, websites and Twitter at three institutions (in Australia, Botswana and Papua New Guinea) and one deanery (United Kingdom) between June 2013 and June 2014 using an online survey tool or via hand-distributed survey.

Distal Ureteric Stones and Tamsulosin: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Multicenter Trial.

Study Objective: We assess the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin compared with placebo as medical expulsive therapy in patients with distal ureteric stones less than or equal to 10 mm in diameter.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial of adult participants with calculus on computed tomography (CT). Patients were allocated to 0.

Diagnosis of subarachnoid haemorrhage: a survey of Australasian emergency physicians and trainees.

Objective: This study aims to establish current practice among Australasian emergency physicians and trainees on several aspects of the investigation of suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: An electronic questionnaire (SurveyMonkey™) was distributed to emergency physicians and trainees by email through the ACEM. Survey recipients were asked about demographics, followed by a series of questions relating to the investigation of SAH.

Emergency department presentations during the State of Origin rugby league series: a retrospective statewide analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the State of Origin rugby league series on the number of emergency department (ED) presentations in Queensland.

Design And Setting: Retrospective analysis of Emergency Department Information System data from 25 Queensland EDs for game 10s and matched control 10s during the annual State of Origin series from 2005 to 2012. The Queensland team won seven of the eight series in this period.

Pediatric flecainide toxicity from a double dose.

A 23-month-old boy was brought to the emergency department of an adult and pediatric tertiary care center 1 hour after an inadvertent “double dose” of 120 mg flecainide (9.2 mg/kg). His electrocardiogram revealed sinus rhythm with a terminal R wave in aVR greater than 7 mm, a bifascicular block, and prolonged QRS and QTc intervals.

Seizures secondary to lamotrigine toxicity in a two-year-old.

Objective: To report a case of acute pediatric lamotrigine ingestion resulting in seizures.

Case Summary: A 2-year-old boy presented to the emergency department after an acute ingestion of up to 43 mg/kg of lamotrigine. He had 2 generalized seizures, with the first occurring 60 minutes after ingestion.

Fast versus slow bandaid removal: a randomised trial.

Objective: To determine whether slow or fast bandaid removal is less painful.

Design, Setting And Participants: A prospective, randomised, crossover trial was carried out at James Cook University, Townsville. Participants were healthy volunteers from Years 2 and 3 of the James Cook University medical school program.

Review article: hypertonic saline use in the emergency department.

Hypertonic saline (HS) is being increasingly used for the management of a variety of conditions, most notably raised intracranial pressure. This article reviews the available evidence on HS solutions as they relate to emergency medicine, and develops a set of recommendations for its use. To conclude, HS is recommended as an alternative to mannitol for treating raised intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury.