Video livestreaming from medical emergency callers' smartphones to emergency medical dispatch centres: a scoping review of current uses, opportunities, and challenges.

Background: Timely dispatch of appropriate emergency medical services (EMS) resources to the scene of medical incidents, and/or provision of treatment at the scene by bystanders and medical emergency lay callers (referred to as 'callers' in this review) can improve patient outcomes. Currently, in dispatch systems worldwide, prioritisation of dispatch relies mostly on verbal telephone information from callers, but advances in mobile phone technology provide means for sharing video footage. This scoping review aimed to map and identify current uses, opportunities, and challenges for using video livestreaming from callers' smartphones to emergency medical dispatch centres.

The SEE-IT Trial: emergency medical services Streaming Enabled Evaluation In Trauma: a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

Background: Use of bystander video livestreaming from scene to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is becoming increasingly common to aid decision making about the resources required. Possible benefits include earlier, more appropriate dispatch and clinical and financial gains, but evidence is sparse.

Methods: A feasibility randomised controlled trial with an embedded process evaluation and exploratory economic evaluation where working shifts during six trial weeks were randomised 1:1 to use video livestreaming during eligible trauma incidents (using GoodSAM Instant-On-Scene) or standard care only.

The views, opinions and decision-making of UK-based paramedics on the use of pre-hospital 12-lead electrocardiograms in acute stroke patients: a qualitative interview study.

Introduction: A qualitative exploration into the views, opinions and decision-making of paramedics involved in undertaking pre-hospital 12-lead electrocardiograms (PHECGs) for stroke patients was undertaken, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the clinical and occupational context that the paramedics work within, the acceptability of the paramedics in using PHECGs for stroke patients and the consequences and influences of their decision-making.

Methods: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed using the framework method, with the underpinning theoretical framework of cognitive continuum theory. A purposive sample of 14 paramedics was recruited and interviewed.

A pre-hospital mixed methods systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Mixed methods research, a methodology entailing the integration of qualitative and quantitative data within a single study, offers researchers the ability to investigate complex processes and systems in health and healthcare. The collective strength gained through the data combination can provide an enhanced understanding of research problems, providing an ideal solution to understanding complex clinical issues in a range of settings. In pre-hospital practice, where often uncontrollable variables and environmental considerations increase healthcare complexity, mixed methods has emerged as a valuable approach to research.

The pre-hospital 12-lead electrocardiogram is associated with longer delay and worse outcomes in patients presenting to emergency medical services with acute stroke: a linked cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the association between pre-hospital 12-lead electrocardiogram (PHECG) use in patients presenting to emergency medical services (EMS) with acute stroke, and clinical outcomes and system delays.

Methods: Multi-centre linked cohort study. Patients with verified acute stroke admitted to hospital via EMS were identified through routinely collected hospital data and linked to EMS clinical records via EMS unique identifiers.

Mixed methods in pre-hospital research: understanding complex clinical problems.

Healthcare is becoming increasingly complex. The pre-hospital setting is no exception, especially when considering the unpredictable environment. To address complex clinical problems and improve quality of care for patients, researchers need to use innovative methods to create the necessary depth and breadth of knowledge.

Use and impact of the prehospital 12-lead ECG in the primary PCI era (PHECG2): protocol for a mixed-method study.

Introduction: Use of the prehospital 12-lead ECG (PHECG) is recommended in patients presenting to emergency medical services (EMS) with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Prior research found that although PHECG use was associated with improved 30-day survival, a third of patients (typically women, the elderly and those with comorbidities) under EMS care did not receive a PHECG.The overall aim of the PHECG2 study is to update evidence on care and outcomes for patients eligible for PHECG, specifically addressing the following research questions: (1) Is there a difference in 30-day mortality, and in reperfusion rate, between those who do and those who do not receive PHECG? (2) Has the proportion of eligible patients who receive PHECG changed since the introduction of primary percutaneous coronary intervention networks? (3) Are patients that receive PHECG different from those that do not in terms of social and demographic factors, or prehospital clinical presentation? (4) What factors influence EMS clinicians' decisions to perform PHECG?

Methods And Analysis: This is an explanatory, mixed-method study comprising four work packages (WPs).

A novel method of non-clinical dispatch is associated with a higher rate of critical Helicopter Emergency Medical Service intervention.

Background: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) are a scarce resource that can provide advanced emergency medical care to unwell or injured patients. Accurate tasking of HEMS is required to incidents where advanced pre-hospital clinical care is needed. We sought to evaluate any association between non-clinically trained dispatchers, following a bespoke algorithm, compared with HEMS paramedic dispatchers with respect to incidents requiring a critical HEMS intervention.

Mechanical lower back pain and sacroiliac joint dysfunction in golfers at two golf clubs in Durban, South Africa.

Background: Mechanical lower back pain (MLBP) and sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) are common problems among golfers. There are currently few studies on golfers regarding the relationship between MLBP and SIJD.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MLBP and SIJD and their association in golfers at two golf clubs in Durban, South Africa.

A pilot study evaluating the use of ABCD2 score in pre-hospital assessment of patients with suspected transient ischaemic attack: experience and lessons learned.

Background: Suspected transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a common presentation to emergency medical services (EMS) in the United Kingdom (UK). Several EMS systems have adopted the ABCD2 score to aid pre-hospital risk stratification and decision-making on patient disposition, such as direct referral to an Emergency Department or specialist TIA clinic. However, the ABCD2 score, developed for hospital use, has not been validated for use in the pre-hospital context of EMS care.

The use and impact of 12-lead electrocardiograms in acute stroke patients: A systematic review.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability across the globe. Emergency Medical Services assess and transport a large number of these patients in the prehospital setting. Guidelines for UK ambulance services recommend recording a 12-lead electrocardiogram in the prehospital environment, providing this does not add to significant delay in transporting the patient to hospital; however, this recommendation is not based on any evidence.

Within-plant distribution of onion thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in onions.

Two aspects of the within-plant distribution of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on onion, Allium cepa L., plants were investigated: 1) diurnal variations in the distribution of adults and larvae between basal and upper sections of onion leaves, and 2) between-leaf and within-leaf distribution of the eggs. The diurnal investigations showed that higher proportions of larvae than of adults congregated at the basal sections of plants, particularly when plants were young and thrips density was low.

Development of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on leaves and fruit of orange trees.

Development of Epipyas postvittna (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), on leaves and fruit of 'Valencia', 'Washington navel', and 'Navelina' orange trees was studied under constant and fluctuating temperatures. E. postvittna was able to complete its life cycle feeding exclusively on leaves or fruit of orange trees.

Evaluation of mating disruption for control of lightbrown apple moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in citrus.

Three large-scale mating disruption (MD) trials were conducted from 2001 to 2004 in an organic citrus orchard in inland southeastern Australia to evaluate the effectiveness of the MD dispenser Isomate LBAM Plus in controlling lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker), in citrus. At the application rate of 364-728 dispensers per ha, the dispensers reduced pheromone trapping of E. postvittana to almost undetectable levels for approximately 6 mo in the treated area.

Drug release characteristics of phase separation pHEMA sponge materials.

A number of phase separation pHEMA sponge hydrogels have been prepared based on variations in monomer contents, concentration of cross-linking agent, solvent mixture and temperature of polymerization. The loading levels and release profiles of the anti-inflammatory drug prednisolone were examined for each of the pHEMA sponge materials. An effective diffusion coefficient determined by an optimization approach based on the experimental data was used to measure their release characteristics.