Browsing by Author "Allgaier, Rachel"

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    Cardiopulmonary resuscitation by emergency medical services in South Africa : barriers to achieving high quality performance
    (Elsevier, 2018) Veronese, Jean-Paul; Wallis, Lee; Allgaier, Rachel; Botha, Ryan
    Introduction: Survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest significantly improve when high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed. Despite sudden cardiac arrest being a leading cause of death in many parts of the world, no studies have determined the quality of CPR delivery by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel in South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of CPR provision by EMS staff in a simulated setting. Methods: A descriptive study design was used to determine competency of CPR among intermediatequalified EMS personnel. Theoretical knowledge was determined using a multiple-choice questionnaire, and psychomotor skills were video-recorded then assessed by independent reviewers. Correlational and regression analysis were used to determine the effect of demographic information on knowledge and skills. Results: Overall competency of CPR among participants (n = 114) was poor: median knowledge was 50%; median skill 33%. Only 25% of the items tested showed that participants applied relevant knowledge to the equivalent skill, and the nature and strength of knowledge influencing skills was small. Demographic factors that significantly influenced both knowledge and skill were the sector of employment, the guidelines EMS personnel were trained to, age, experience, and the location of training. Conclusion: Overall knowledge and skill performance was below standard. This study suggests that theoretical knowledge has a small but notable role to play on some components of skill performance. Demographic variables that affected both knowledge and skill may be used to improve training and the overall quality of Basic Life Support CPR delivery by EMS personnel.
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    Describing suspected non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome using troponin at a regional, public South African emergency centre with the Roche cardiac reader
    (South African Heart Association, 2018) Kabongo, Diulu; Kalla, Moosa; Allgaier, Rachel; Bruijns, Stevan
    Background: There are few data available regarding acute coronary syndrome presenting to emergency centres in sub-Saharan Africa compared to the rest of the world. The aim of this study was to describe the acute coronary syndrome diagnosis and its outcome in an undifferentiated chest pain population when using a troponin assay that predates current reference standards at a public, Cape Town emergency centre. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional design was used. Comparisons were made between the diagnosis, outcome and troponin result (using the Roche cardiac reader). Findings were descriptively presented. Troponin results were qualitatively described in relation to a non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome diagnosis. Associations were tested using the Chi2-test. Results: Nine hundred and sixty-nine patients were included in the study, of which 40 patients (4%) were excluded due to poor clinical record keeping. Acute coronary syndrome was diagnosed in 256 patients (28%), from which 54 (21%) were troponin positive which differed to troponin negative acute coronary syndrome (p <0.001). Unstable angina was diagnosed in 197 (77%) of acute coronary syndrome patients. Conclusions: Unsurprisingly, a high proportion of chest pain patients did not have acute coronary syndrome. Unstable angina numbers were much higher than described elsewhere. Although it is not possible to relate this finding to the assay’s lower accuracy using only a descriptive design, a higher sensitivity assay would likely benefit the diagnostic process as it does elsewhere. Further research is required to explore safe, local diagnostic strategies that can strike a balance between patient safety and cost effectiveness.