Comparison of the serious injury pattern of adult bicyclists, between South-West Netherlands and the State of Victoria, Australia 2001-2009.

Background: Head injury is the leading cause of death and long term disability from bicycle injuries and may be prevented by helmet wearing. We compared the pattern of injury in major trauma victims resulting from bicyclist injury admitted to hospitals in the State of Victoria, Australia and South-West Netherlands, with respective high and low prevalence of helmet use among bicyclists.

Methods: A cohort of bicycle injured patients with serious injury (defined as Injury Severity Score>15) in South-West Netherlands, was compared to a cohort of serious injured bicyclists in the State of Victoria, Australia.

The efficacy and value of emergency medicine: a supportive literature review.

Study Objectives: The goal of this study was to identify publications in the medical literature that support the efficacy or value of Emergency Medicine (EM) as a medical specialty and of clinical care delivered by trained emergency physicians. In this study we use the term "value" to refer both to the "efficacy of clinical care" in terms of achieving desired patient outcomes, as well as "efficiency" in terms of effective and/or cost-effective utilization of healthcare resources in delivering emergency care. A comprehensive listing of publications describing the efficacy or value of EM has not been previously published.

Emergency medicine in Paarl, South Africa: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Background: Emergency Medicine (EM) in South Africa is in its earliest stages of development. There is a paucity of data about emergency department (ED) patient demographics, epidemiology, consultation and admission criteria and other characteristics.

Aims: This information is absolutely necessary to properly guide the development of EM and appropriate emergency care systems.