A cross sectional study of the availability of paediatric emergency equipment in 24 hour cape town emergency medicine centres
Date
2019-12
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Healthcare facilities are often not equipped to deliver effective paediatric emergency care despite a significant paediatric emergency patient burden. The availability of paediatric emergency equipment potentially impacts on morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To describe the availability of essential, functional paediatric emergency resuscitation equipment on the resuscitation trolley, in 24-hour emergency centres within the Cape Town Metropole.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period in government funded hospitals (district-level and higher), within the Cape Town Metropole, providing 24-hour emergency paediatric care. A standardised data collection sheet of essential resuscitation equipment expected to be available on the resuscitation trolley, was used. Items were considered to be available if at least one piece of equipment was present. Functionality of equipment available on the resuscitation trolley was defined as: equipment that hadn’t expired, whose original packaging was not outwardly damaged or compromised and all components were present and intact. Comparisons were done using the χ2-test.
Results: Overall, a mean of 43% (30/69) of equipment was available across all hospitals. Mean availability of functional equipment was 42% overall, 41% at district-level hospitals, and 45% at regional/tertiary hospitals (p=0.91). The overall mean availability of equipment in the resuscitation area was 49% across all hospitals. There was no difference between emergency centres run by emergency physicians and those run by non-emergency physicians (43% versus 41%, p=0.95).
Conclusion: The suboptimal availability and functionality of equipment at district-level and higher is a modifiable barrier to the provision of high quality paediatric emergency care.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
Description
Thesis (MMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
Keywords
Pediatric emergency services -- Equipment and supplies -- Cape Town (South Africa), Paediatric emergency equipment -- Cape Town (South Africa), UCTD