Status epilepticus in Auckland, New Zealand: Incidence, etiology, and outcomes.

Objective: To determine the incidence, etiology, and outcome of status epilepticus (SE) in Auckland, New Zealand, using the latest International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) SE semiological classification.

Methods: We prospectively identified patients presenting to the public or major private hospitals in Auckland (population = 1.61 million) between April 6, 2015 and April 5, 2016 with a seizure lasting 10 minutes or longer, with retrospective review to confirm completeness of data capture.

EpiNet study of incidence of status epilepticus in Auckland, New Zealand: Methods and preliminary results.

The EpiNet project has been commenced to facilitate investigator-led collaborative research in epilepsy. A new Web-based data collection tool has been developed within EpiNet to record comprehensive data regarding status epilepticus and has been used for a study of status epilepticus in Auckland, New Zealand. All patients aged >4 weeks who presented to any of the five public hospitals and the major private hospital within Auckland city (population = 1.

Effect of a text message intervention to reduce hazardous drinking among injured patients discharged from a trauma ward: a randomized controlled trial.

Screening and brief intervention for hazardous alcohol use in trauma care settings is known to reduce alcohol intake and injury recidivism, but is often not implemented due to resource constraints. Brief interventions delivered by mobile phone could overcome this challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a mobile phone text message intervention (YourCall) on hazardous drinkers admitted for an injury.

Effectiveness of the YourCall™ text message intervention to reduce harmful drinking in patients discharged from trauma wards: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Behavioural brief interventions (BI) can support people to reduce harmful drinking but multiple barriers impede the delivery and equitable access to these. To address this challenge, we developed YourCall™, a novel short message service (SMS) text message intervention incorporating BI principles. This protocol describes a trial evaluating the effectiveness of YourCall™ (compared to usual care) in reducing hazardous drinking and alcohol related harm among injured adults who received in-patient care.

Use of the EpiNet database for observational study of status epilepticus in Auckland, New Zealand.

The EpiNet project has been established to facilitate investigator-initiated clinical research in epilepsy, to undertake epidemiological studies, and to simultaneously improve the care of patients who have records created within the EpiNet database. The EpiNet database has recently been adapted to collect detailed information regarding status epilepticus. An incidence study is now underway in Auckland, New Zealand in which the incidence of status epilepticus in the greater Auckland area (population: 1.

Why do patients self-present to Middlemore Hospital Emergency Department?

Aim: To determine the drivers for acute (Australasian Triage Scale Category 3-5) demand in patients who self-present to New Zealand's Middlemore Hospital Emergency Department (MMH ED), we sought to establish a demographic profile of a sample of self-presenting patients and explore their reasons for presenting to ED rather than attending a primary care centre.

Method: A prospective, observational study was undertaken of patients in Australasian Triage Scale Categories 3-5 (ATS 3-5) who self-presented to MMH ED over a 7 day period from 14 April 2011 to 21 April 2011. We studied two time periods, 0900-1200 and 1800-2200, to compare drivers for attendance to MMH ED during primary care service open hours and closed hours.

Does cost drive primary care patients to New Zealand's emergency departments? A systematic review.

Aim: The cost of primary care is often stated as a major contributing factor to presentations to New Zealand Emergency Departments. This review sought to determine whether this assumption is supported by the literature.

Methods: A structured search in Medline, hand search of the New Zealand Medical Journal and citation searching was conducted for articles exploring the reasons for presentation to New Zealand Emergency Departments.

Analysis of junior doctor supervision in Australasian emergency departments.

Background: Supervision of junior doctors in ED is vital but limited literature exists on how it is provided.

Objective: To assess Australasian ED supervision and review regional legislature supervision requirements.

Methods: Between December 2008 and June 2009 emails containing a link to a cross-sectional survey were sent to Directors of Emergency Medicine Training in all Australasian ED accredited for advanced training.

Junior doctor strike model of care: Reduced access block and predominant Fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine staffing improve emergency department performance.

Objective: To describe the response and analyse ED performance during a 5-day junior doctor strike.

Methods: Data were collected via the patient information management computer system. Key performance indicators included percentage seen within maximum waiting times per triage category (TC), ED length of stay, emergency medicine patients who did not wait to be seen, hospital bed occupancy and access block percentage.

Acute gastroenteritis associated with seafood privately imported from the Pacific Islands.

Aims: To investigate a potential link between consumption of food privately imported from the Pacific Islands and presentation with acute gastroenteritis to Middlemore Hospital Emergency Department.

Methods: This was a three month prospective observational case study that included patients aged greater than fifteen years presenting with acute gastroenteritis and a history of food privately imported from the Pacific Islands. Data included case demographics, symptoms, island of food origin and food type.