Investigating the relationship between low back pain and quality of life in emergency medical personnel and the role of demographic variables in this regard

Introduction: Back pain is one of the most important occupational problems among health care workers that have detrimental effects on their personal and professional life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between low back pain and quality of life in prehospital emergency staff and the role of demographic variables in this regard. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study. The population was a prehospital emergency staff that entered to study by using the census method at 2020. Data gathering instruments were demographic characteristics, low back pain, and quality of life questionnaires. Data were entered into SPSS 22 and were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The results showed that the related to the low back pain score of emergency medical technicians was 51.34± 4.149, which is high. In addition, the quality of life mean and standard deviation was 30.35± 4.851, which shows a low level. There is a significant relationship between back pain and quality of life (p = 0.001, R = 0.723). Conclusion: Low back pain is so common among emergency medical personnel that the issue may affect a person's life and work and creates many problems in terms of personal, family, socially, economically, and professionally, which reduce their quality of life.

Use of Augmented Reality to Train Sensemaking in High-Stakes Medical Environments

We present a framework for using augmented reality (AR) to train sensemaking skills in combat medics and civilian emergency medical personnel. AR and other extended reality technologies create engaging training environments, but their effectiveness on training outcomes is not yet clear. One benefit of AR is that it can enhance simulation training with realism and context that naturalistic decision-making (NDM) models emphasize. We describe four key elements of sensemaking that leverage the strengths of AR: perceptual skills, assessment skills, mental models, and generating/evaluating hypotheses. We discuss how AR can be used to train each of these four elements, along with design implications. A focus on naturalistic tasks and environments while designing AR-based simulation training will likely lead to training that is not only engaging but also effective.

Depressive State in the Emergency Department During COVID-19: A National Cross-Sectional Survey in China

Chinese emergency department (ED) staff encountered significant mental stress while fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We sought to investigate the prevalence and associated factors for depressive symptoms among ED staff (including physicians, nurses, allied health, and auxiliary ED staff). A cross-sectional national survey of ED staff who were on duty and participated in combating the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted March 1–15, 2020. A total of 6,588 emergency medical personnel from 1,060 hospitals responded to this survey. A majority of respondents scored above 10 points on the PHQ-9 standardized test, which is associated with depressive symptoms. Those aged 31–45, those working in the COVID-19 isolation unit, and those with relatives ≤ 16 or ≥70 years old at home all had statistically significant associations with scoring >10 points. Depressive symptoms among Chinese emergency medical staff were likely quite common during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reinforce the importance of targeted ED staff support during future outbreaks.

Abstract 344: Comparing the Efficacy of Real-Time Audiovisual Feedback Devices and Active Compression-Decompression Devices in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Network Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Nearly 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases occur annually in the United States, with a fatality rate nearing 90%. Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is known to significantly influence survival. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) on real-time audiovisual feedback (RTAVF) and active compression-decompression (ACD) devices show both provide substantial advantages to standard CPR. We conducted the first network meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of RTAVF and ACD devices in OHCA based on a literature review. Methods: Studies examining the efficacy of RTAVF or ACD devices to standard CPR by emergency medical personnel in OHCA cases were identified in PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Embase. Outcomes of interest were return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital discharge (SHD), and favorable neurological recovery. Both a frequentist and Bayesian network meta-analysis were conducted. The p-values, P-scores and Surface under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) scores were computed to analyze significance and effect size. Results: The search yielded 31 eligible studies (n = 35,575). RTAVF devices significantly improved ROSC (Risk Ratio (RR) 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09 - 1.22, p < 0.001, P-score > 0.999) and SHD (RR 1.16, 1.07 - 1.26, p < 0.001, P-score > 0.91), but did not significantly improve favorable neurological recovery (RR 1.05, 0.92 - 1.19, p > 0.05). ACD devices did not report significant improvement in either ROSC (RR 1.03, 0.99 - 1.08, p > 0.05) or SHD (RR 1.10, 0.99 - 1.21, p > 0.05), but did report significant benefits in favorable neurological outcome (RR 1.30, 1.07 - 1.58, p < 0.01, P-score > 0.97). Similar findings were also seen in SUCRA scores. Conclusion: We found RTAVF devices increased ROSC and SHD, while ACD devices increased favorable neurological recovery. Our meta-analysis supports the adoption of RTAVF devices, but an RCT directly comparing RTAVF with ACD devices is recommended.

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Emergency Medical Personnel

Relevance. The importance of studying and analyzing contribution of occupational risk factors in musculoskeletal disorders among emergency medical personnel is related to high disease incidence rates and work specifics. The objective of our research envisaged formalization of information obtained for the analysis and assessment of occupational risks of developing musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders in ambulance personnel. Results. According to professional medical examination results, musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders ranked second among all diagnosed diseases. The relative risk of developing those disorders was 70% indicating the link between them and transport vibration (category 1) affecting the backbone during long trips in ambulance cars.

Respiratory tract burns in emergency medical care

Respiratory tract burns are among the most serious injuries. Complications include rapid swelling of the respiratory tract, which is the cause of high mortality rates. Such injuries require appropriate specialist treatment. The priority in emergency medical care is to ensure the airways remain unobstructed. If symptoms appear that suggest rapidly increasing swelling of the respiratory tract, intubation becomes essential to ensure the airways remain open. The aim of this article is to discuss the issue of the necessity to develop guidelines for emergency medical personnel attending patients with respiratory tract burns. Currently, according to the State Emergency Medical Care statute, paramedics may carry out intubation on patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. According to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the 20th April 2016, the list of actions that a paramedic may freely undertake does not include intubation of patients with rapidly increasing swelling of the respiratory tract caused by burns. Taking into consideration the decrease in the number of specialist teams, recommendations should be developed as quickly as possible on indications for prompt intubation of patients with inhalation injuries. The scope of emergency medical treatment carried out independently by paramedics should also be expanded.

Designing a First Responders’ Emergency Response Kit for Motor-Vehicle Collisions

Fast, effective, and accurate emergency medical treatment can save lives. Quick access to the specific equipment that emergency medical personnel need facilitates more efficacious treatment during emergencies. This project focuses on designing an improved emergency response kit for medical first responders. The kit currently in use has no organizational standard for the way the medical items it contains are placed inside. With a user-centered method, we designed a kit that better fits first responders’ requirements and found that the kit – a backpack and a vest – is both easier to use and carry, based on emergency care priorities.

Examining Opioid Overdose Data in Atlantic County: A Descriptive Case Study

Between 2015-2017, local police, state troopers and emergency medical personnel in Atlantic County, NJ collected data on opioid overdose victims within the County. Forms on 311 overdose victims were ultimately completed. Early in 2018, a partnership between the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and Stockton University was formed in order to analyze this information and better understand Atlantic County’s opioid overdose statistics. Results painted a picture of who is using, and showed that quick response to opioid overdoses and prompt administration of the drug naloxone can save lives. Recommendations for the future include collecting additional data points for overdose victims going forward to allow for deeper study, along with increased distribution of naloxone. Such recommendations can positively contribute to future educational and prevention efforts.