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Inequalities and short-term outcome among patients assessed as non-urgent in a Swedish ambulance service setting

Forsell, Lena LU orcid ; Forsberg, Anna LU ; Malmborg Kisch, Annika LU and Rantala, Andreas LU orcid (2021) In International Emergency Nursing 57.
Abstract
Background
Within the ambulance service, assessment and referral of patients, especially those with non-urgent conditions, is a difficult and complicated task. Studies indicate that 12 to 20 percent of all patients are subjected to non-conveyance and discharged at the scene. There is lack of knowledge of what characterizes conveyed and non-conveyed patients. The aim of this study was to explore non-urgent patients who are conveyed or not conveyed to hospital and the short-term outcome of non-conveyance in a Swedish Ambulance Service setting.
Methods
This study has a descriptive, cross-sectional design. All patients who were prioritized as non-urgent were eligible for the study and 1,048 patients were followed-up in an... (More)
Background
Within the ambulance service, assessment and referral of patients, especially those with non-urgent conditions, is a difficult and complicated task. Studies indicate that 12 to 20 percent of all patients are subjected to non-conveyance and discharged at the scene. There is lack of knowledge of what characterizes conveyed and non-conveyed patients. The aim of this study was to explore non-urgent patients who are conveyed or not conveyed to hospital and the short-term outcome of non-conveyance in a Swedish Ambulance Service setting.
Methods
This study has a descriptive, cross-sectional design. All patients who were prioritized as non-urgent were eligible for the study and 1,048 patients were followed-up in an administrative data system that stores information about the patients’ trajectory in both primary and hospital care.
Results
More women than men were subjected to non-conveyance and most of the non-conveyed patients were left at home out-of-hours. 53% sought care again within 72 h. A large proportion of the non-conveyed patients were assessed as having unspecific symptoms.
Conclusions
There are prominent gender differences in the context of non-conveyance where unspecific symptoms seem to be the main reason for being left at home. As many of the non-conveyed patients who did not receive any advice about further investigation or intervention sought care again within 72 h, the assessments may be insufficient or inaccurate. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Emergency Nursing
volume
57
article number
101018
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85108116617
  • pmid:34147876
ISSN
1755-599X
DOI
10.1016/j.ienj.2021.101018
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
74f88ba1-7b01-45fe-a795-c2e17240f79a
date added to LUP
2021-06-18 07:38:44
date last changed
2024-01-20 08:37:46
@article{74f88ba1-7b01-45fe-a795-c2e17240f79a,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/>Within the ambulance service, assessment and referral of patients, especially those with non-urgent conditions, is a difficult and complicated task. Studies indicate that 12 to 20 percent of all patients are subjected to non-conveyance and discharged at the scene. There is lack of knowledge of what characterizes conveyed and non-conveyed patients. The aim of this study was to explore non-urgent patients who are conveyed or not conveyed to hospital and the short-term outcome of non-conveyance in a Swedish Ambulance Service setting.<br/>Methods<br/>This study has a descriptive, cross-sectional design. All patients who were prioritized as non-urgent were eligible for the study and 1,048 patients were followed-up in an administrative data system that stores information about the patients’ trajectory in both primary and hospital care.<br/>Results<br/>More women than men were subjected to non-conveyance and most of the non-conveyed patients were left at home out-of-hours. 53% sought care again within 72 h. A large proportion of the non-conveyed patients were assessed as having unspecific symptoms.<br/>Conclusions<br/>There are prominent gender differences in the context of non-conveyance where unspecific symptoms seem to be the main reason for being left at home. As many of the non-conveyed patients who did not receive any advice about further investigation or intervention sought care again within 72 h, the assessments may be insufficient or inaccurate.}},
  author       = {{Forsell, Lena and Forsberg, Anna and Malmborg Kisch, Annika and Rantala, Andreas}},
  issn         = {{1755-599X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{International Emergency Nursing}},
  title        = {{Inequalities and short-term outcome among patients assessed as non-urgent in a Swedish ambulance service setting}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2021.101018}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ienj.2021.101018}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}