Patterns of on-scene and healthcare system trauma deaths in the Western Cape of South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Injuries account for 8% or 4.4 million deaths annually worldwide, with 90% of injury deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Inter-personal violence and road traffic injuries account for most injury deaths in South Africa, with rates among the highest globally. Understanding the location, timing, and factors of trauma deaths can identify opportunities to strengthen care. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional secondary analysis of trauma deaths from 2021 to 2022 in the Western Cape of South Africa. Healthcare system trauma deaths were identified from a multicenter study paired with a dataset for on-scene (i.e., prior to ambulance or hospital) trauma deaths in the same jurisdictions. We describe locations, timing, injury factors, and cause of death. We assess associations between those factors. RESULTS: There were 2418 deaths, predominantly young men, with most (2274, 94.0%) occurring on-scene. The most frequent mechanism of injury for all deaths was firearms (32.6%), followed by road traffic collisions (17.8%). On-scene deaths (33.2%) were significantly more likely to be injured by firearms compared to healthcare system deaths (23.6%) (p-value <0.01). Most healthcare system deaths within 4-24 h of injury occurred in a hospital emergency center. Among healthcare system decedents, half died in the emergency unit. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a large burden of deaths from interpersonal violence and road traffic collisions, mostly on-scene. In addition to primary prevention, shortening delays to care can improve mortality outcomes especially for deaths occurring within 4-24 h in emergency centers.

An educational pathway and teaching materials for first aid training of children in sub-Saharan Africa based on the best available evidence.

BACKGROUND: First aid training is a cost-effective way to decrease the burden of disease and injury in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Since evidence from Western countries has shown that children are able to learn first aid, first aid training of children in LMIC may be a promising way forward. Hence, our project aim was to develop contextualized materials to train sub-Saharan African children in first aid, based on the best available evidence. METHODS: Systematic literature searches were conducted to identify studies on first aid education to children up to 18 years old (research question one), and studies investigating different teaching approaches (broader than first aid) in LMIC (research question two). A multidisciplinary expert panel translated the evidence to the context of sub-Saharan Africa, and evidence and expert input were used to develop teaching materials. RESULTS: For question one, we identified 58 studies, measuring the effect of training children in resuscitation, first aid for skin wounds, poisoning etc. For question two, two systematic reviews were included from which we selected 36 studies, revealing the effectiveness of several pedagogical methods, such as problem-solving instruction and small-group instruction. However, the certainty of the evidence was low to very low. Hence expert input was necessary to formulate training objectives and age ranges based on "good practice" whenever the quantity or quality of the evidence was limited. The experts also placed the available evidence against the African context. CONCLUSIONS: The above approach resulted in an educational pathway (i.e. a scheme with educational goals concerning first aid for different age groups), a list of recommended educational approaches, and first aid teaching materials for children, based on the best available evidence and adapted to the African context.

South African paramedic perspectives on prehospital palliative care.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care is typically performed in-hospital. However, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are uniquely positioned to deliver early palliative care as they are often the first point of medical contact. The aim of this study was to gather the perspectives of advanced life support (ALS) providers within the South African private EMS sector regarding pre-hospital palliative care in terms of its importance, feasibility and barriers to its practice. METHODS: A qualitative study design employing semi-structured one-on-one interviews was used. Six interviews with experienced, higher education qualified, South African ALS providers were conducted. Content analysis, with an inductive-dominant approach, was performed to identify categories within verbatim transcripts of the interview audio-recordings. RESULTS: Four categories arose from analysis of six interviews: 1) need for pre-hospital palliative care, 2) function of pre-hospital healthcare providers concerning palliative care, 3) challenges to pre-hospital palliative care and 4) ideas for implementing pre-hospital palliative care. According to the interviewees of this study, pre-hospital palliative care in South Africa is needed and EMS providers can play a valuable role, however, many challenges such as a lack of education and EMS system and mindset barriers exist. CONCLUSION: Challenges to pre-hospital palliative care may be overcome by development of guidelines, training, and a multi-disciplinary approach to pre-hospital palliative care.

Harnessing inter-disciplinary collaboration to improve emergency care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): results of research prioritisation setting exercise.

BACKGROUND: More than half of deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) result from conditions that could be treated with emergency care - an integral component of universal health coverage (UHC) - through timely access to lifesaving interventions. METHODS: The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to extend UHC to a further 1 billion people by 2023, yet evidence supporting improved emergency care coverage is lacking. In this article, we explore four phases of a research prioritisation setting (RPS) exercise conducted by researchers and stakeholders from South Africa, Egypt, Nepal, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea and Phillipines, USA and UK as a key step in gathering evidence required by policy makers and practitioners for the strengthening of emergency care systems in limited-resource settings. RESULTS: The RPS proposed seven priority research questions addressing: identification of context-relevant emergency care indicators, barriers to effective emergency care; accuracy and impact of triage tools; potential quality improvement via registries; characteristics of people seeking emergency care; best practices for staff training and retention; and cost effectiveness of critical care - all within LMICs. CONCLUSIONS: Convened by WHO and facilitated by the University of Sheffield, the Global Emergency Care Research Network project (GEM-CARN) brought together a coalition of 16 countries to identify research priorities for strengthening emergency care in LMICs. Our article further assesses the quality of the RPS exercise and reviews the current evidence supporting the identified priorities.

Towards developing a consensus assessment framework for global emergency medicine fellowships.

BACKGROUND: The number of Global Emergency Medicine (GEM) Fellowship training programs are increasing worldwide. Despite the increasing number of GEM fellowships, there is not an agreed upon approach for assessment of GEM trainees. MAIN BODY: In order to study the lack of standardized assessment in GEM fellowship training, a working group was established between the International EM Fellowship Consortium (IEMFC) and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM). A needs assessment survey of IEMFC members and a review were undertaken to identify assessment tools currently in use by GEM fellowship programs; what relevant frameworks exist; and common elements used by programs with a wide diversity of emphases. A consensus framework was developed through iterative working group discussions. Thirty-two of 40 GEM fellowships responded (80% response). There is variability in the use and format of formal assessment between programs. Thirty programs reported training GEM fellows in the last 3 years (94%). Eighteen (56%) reported only informal assessments of trainees. Twenty-seven (84%) reported regular meetings for assessment of trainees. Eleven (34%) reported use of a structured assessment of any sort for GEM fellows and, of these, only 2 (18%) used validated instruments modified from general EM residency assessment tools. Only 3 (27%) programs reported incorporation of formal written feedback from partners in other countries. Using these results along with a review of the available assessment tools in GEM the working group developed a set of principles to guide GEM fellowship assessments along with a sample assessment for use by GEM fellowship programs seeking to create their own customized assessments. CONCLUSION: There are currently no widely used assessment frameworks for GEM fellowship training. The working group made recommendations for developing standardized assessments aligned with competencies defined by the programs, that characterize goals and objectives of training, and document progress of trainees towards achieving those goals. Frameworks used should include perspectives of multiple stakeholders including partners in other countries where trainees conduct field work. Future work may evaluate the usability, validity and reliability of assessment frameworks in GEM fellowship training.

Attitudes of prehospital providers on transport decision-making in the management of patients with a suicide attempt refusing care: A survey based on the Mental Health Care Act of 2002.

BACKGROUND: Given the frequency of suicidal patients making attempts prior to a completed suicide, emergency access to mental health care services could lead to significant reduction in morbidity and mortality for these patients. AIM: To describe the attitudes of prehospital providers and describe transport decision-making around the management of patients with a suicide attempt. SETTING: Cape Town Metropole. METHODS: A cross-sectional, vignette-based survey was used to collect data related to training and knowledge of the Mental Health Care Act, prehospital transport decision-making and patient management. RESULTS: Patients with less dramatic suicidal history were more likely to be discharged on scene. Few respondents reported the use of formal suicide evaluation tools to aid their decision. Respondents displayed negative attitudes towards suicidal patients. Some respondents reported returning to find a suicidal patient dead, while others reported patient attempts at suicide when in their care. Eighty per cent of respondents had no training in the management of suicidal patients, while only 7.0% had specific training in the Mental Health Care Act. CONCLUSION: A critical lack in the knowledge, training and implementation of the Mental Health Care Act exists amongst prehospital providers within the Western Cape. A further concern is the negative feelings towards suicidal patients and the lack of commitment to transporting patients to definitive care. It is essential to urgently develop training programmes to ensure that prehospital providers are better equipped to deal with suicidal patients.

The emergency burden in low and middle-income countries.

Injuries are the greatest single cause of surgical disease globally, disproportionately affecting low and middle-income countries and representing 10% of global mortality and 32% greater annual mortality than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Road traffic injuries are the single greatest contributor to the global injury burden and the leading cause of death for young people aged 5 to 29 years. In May 2023, the 76th World Health Assembly resolved that emergency, critical, and operative care services are an integral part of a comprehensive national primary health care approach and foundational for health systems to effectively address emergencies. However, robust trauma systems and emergency medical services are lacking in low and middle-income countries to adequately address the prehospital injury burden in systematic and financially sustainable approaches, despite the disproportionate burden faced. Replicating formal Tier 2 emergency medical services (staffed by professional emergency responders within well-defined jurisdictions using dedicated vehicles and equipment) from high-income countries has failed, and the World Health Organization recommends Tier 1 systems (community bystander-driven prehospital care by provided by lay first responders) as the first step toward formal emergency medical services in these same settings. The Global Prehospital Consortium has identified 7 priority areas as a framework for future emergency medical services development, forming the basis for the remaining articles in this series, spanning infrastructure and operations, communication, education/training, impact evaluation, financing, governance/legal, and transportation/equipment.

Road Traffic Injuries in South Africa: A Complex Global Health Crisis.

1.3 million people die each year as a result of Road traffic crashes. Road Traffic Injuries are a global health crisis with 90% of global deaths affecting LMICs. Sustainable Development Goal 3.6 focuses on reducing road injury and death. The global plan is based on the Safe Systems approach. In South Africa, the burden of crashes on the health system and society is particularly high with a population death rate of 20.7 per 100 000 population. Understanding local context and culture is critical. Rurality, distorted urban planning, higher travel exposure and alcohol usage disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities. Pedestrian safety is a key priority. There is a critical need for the global health community to take an active role in advocacy in order to achieve SDG 3.6 by 2030.

A systematic review of cost-effectiveness of treating out of hospital cardiac arrest and the implications for resource-limited health systems.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a prevalent condition with high mortality and poor outcomes even in settings where extensive emergency care resources are available. Interventions to address OHCA have had limited success, with survival rates below 10% in national samples of high-income countries. In resource-limited settings, where scarcity requires careful priority setting, more data is needed to determine the optimal allocation of resources. OBJECTIVE: To establish the cost-effectiveness of OHCA care and assess the affordability of interventions across income settings. METHODS: The authors conducted a systematic review of economic evaluations on interventions to address OHCA. Six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Global Health, Cochrane, Global Index Medicus, and Tuft's Cost-Effectiveness Registry) were searched in September 2023. Included studies were (1) economic evaluations (beyond a simple costing exercise); and (2) assessed an intervention in the chain of survival for OHCA. Article quality was assessed using the CHEERs checklist and data summarised. Findings were reported by major themes identified by the reviewers. Based upon the results of the cost-effectiveness analyses we then conduct an analysis for the progressive realization of the OHCA chain of survival from the perspective of decision-makers facing resource constraints. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty-eight unique articles were screened, and 46 articles were included for final data abstraction. Studies predominantly used a healthcare sector perspective, modeled for all patients experiencing non-traumatic cardiac OHCA, were based in the US, and presented results in US Dollars. No studies reported results or used model inputs from low-income settings. Progressive realization of the chain of survival could likely begin with investments in termination of resuscitation protocols, professional prehospital defibrillator use, and CPR training followed by the distribution of AEDs in high-density public locations. Finally, other interventions such as indiscriminate defibrillator placement or adrenaline use, would be the lowest priority for early investment. CONCLUSION: Our review found no high-quality evidence on the cost-effectiveness of treating OHCA in low-resource settings. Existing evidence can be utilized to develop a roadmap for the development of a cost-effective approach to OHCA care, however further economic evaluations using context-specific data are crucial to accurately inform prioritization of scarce resources within emergency care in these settings.

A Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness of Treating Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Implications for Resource-limited Health Systems.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a prevalent condition with high mortality and poor outcomes even in settings where extensive emergency care resources are available. Interventions to address OHCA have had limited success, with survival rates below 10% in national samples of high-income countries. In resource-limited settings, where scarcity requires careful priority setting, more data is needed to determine the optimal allocation of resources. Objective: To establish the cost-effectiveness of OHCA care and assess the affordability of interventions across income settings. Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review of economic evaluations on interventions to address OHCA. Included studies were (1) economic evaluations (beyond a simple costing exercise); and (2) assessed an intervention in the chain of survival for OHCA. Article quality was assessed using the CHEERs checklist and data summarised. Findings were reported by major themes identified by the reviewers. Based upon the results of the cost-effectiveness analyses we then conduct an analysis for the progressive realization of the OHCA chain of survival from the perspective of decision-makers facing resource constraints. Results: 468 unique articles were screened, and 46 articles were included for final data abstraction. Studies predominantly used a healthcare sector perspective, modeled for all patients experiencing non-traumatic cardiac OHCA, were based in the US, and presented results in US Dollars. No studies reported results or used model inputs from low-income settings. Progressive realization of the chain of survival could likely begin with investments in TOR protocols, professional prehospital defibrillator use, and CPR training followed by distribution of AEDs in high-density public locations. Finally, other interventions such as indiscriminate defibrillator placement or adrenaline use, would be the lowest priority for early investment. Conclusion: Our review found no high-quality evidence on the cost-effectiveness of treating OHCA in low-resource settings. Existing evidence can be utilized to develop a roadmap for the development of a cost-effective approach to OHCA care, however further economic evaluations using context-specific data are crucial to accurately inform prioritization of scarce resources within emergency care in these settings.

Defining and identifying the critical elements of operational readiness for public health emergency events: a rapid scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 showed that countries must strengthen their operational readiness (OPR) capabilities to respond to an imminent pandemic threat rapidly and proactively. We conducted a rapid scoping evidence review to understand the definition and critical elements of OPR against five core sub-systems of a new framework to strengthen the global architecture for Health Emergency Preparedness Response and Resilience (HEPR). METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science, targeted repositories, websites, and grey literature databases for publications between 1 January 2010 and 29 September 2021 in English, German, French or Afrikaans. Included sources were of any study design, reporting OPR, defined as immediate actions taken in the presence of an imminent threat, from groups who led or responded to a specified health emergency. We used prespecified and tested methods to screen and select sources, extract data, assess credibility and analyse results against the HEPR framework. RESULTS: Of 7005 sources reviewed, 79 met the eligibility criteria, including 54 peer-reviewed publications. The majority were descriptive reports (28%) and qualitative analyses (30%) from early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Definitions of OPR varied while nine articles explicitly used the term 'readiness', others classified OPR as part of preparedness or response. Applying our working OPR definition across all sources, we identified OPR actions within all five HEPR subsystems. These included resource prepositioning for early detection, data sharing, tailored communication and interventions, augmented staffing, timely supply procurement, availability and strategic dissemination of medical countermeasures, leadership, comprehensive risk assessment and resource allocation supported by relevant legislation. We identified gaps related to OPR for research and technology-enabled manufacturing platforms. CONCLUSIONS: OPR is in an early stage of adoption. Establishing a consistent and explicit framework for OPRs within the context of existing global legal and policy frameworks can foster coherence and guide evidence-based policy and practice improvements in health emergency management.

Preventable trauma deaths in the Western Cape of South Africa: A consensus-based panel review.

Injury causes 4.4 million deaths worldwide annually. 90% of all injury-related deaths occur in low-and-middle income countries. Findings from expert-led trauma death reviews can inform strategies to reduce trauma deaths. A cohort of trauma decedents was identified from an on-going study in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. For each case, demographics, injury characteristics, time and location of death and postmortem findings were collected. An expert multidisciplinary panel of reviewed each case, determined preventability and made recommendations for improvement. Analysis of preventable and non-preventable cases was performed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. A rapid qualitative analysis of recommendations was conducted and descriptively summarized. 138 deaths (48 deceased-on-scene and 90 pre- or in-hospital deaths) were presented to 23 panelists. Overall, 46 (33%) of deaths reviewed were considered preventable or potentially preventable. Of all pre- and in-hospital deaths, late deaths (>24 hours) were more frequently preventable (22, 56%) and due to multi-organ failure and sepsis, compared to early deaths (≤24 hours) with 32 (63%) that were non-preventable and due to central nervous system injury and haemorrhage. 45% of pre and in-hospital deaths were preventable or potentially preventable. The expert panel recommended strengthening community based primary prevention strategies for reducing interpersonal violence alongside health system improvements to facilitate high quality care. For the health system the panel's key recommendations included improving team-based care, adherence to trauma protocols, timely access to radiology, trauma specialists, operative and critical care.

Lessons Learned from a Global Perspective of Coronavirus Disease-2019.

Coronavirus disease-2019 has impacted the world globally. Countries and health care organizations across the globe responded to this unprecedented public health crisis in a varied manner in terms of public health and social measures, vaccination development and rollout, the conduct of research, developments of therapeutics, sharing of information, and in how they continue to deal with the widespread aftermath. This article reviews the various elements of the global response to the pandemic, focusing on the lessons learned and strategies to consider during future pandemics.

Mapping access to care and identification of barriers for traumatic brain injury in a South African township.

RATIONALE: South Africa has a high traumatic injury burden resulting in a significant number of persons suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is a time-sensitive condition requiring a responsive and organized health system to minimize morbidity and mortality. This study outlined the barriers to accessing TBI care in a South African township. METHODS: This was a multimethod study. A facility survey was carried out on health facilities offering trauma care in Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa. Perceived barriers to accessing TBI care were explored using qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. The four-delay framework that describes delays in four phases was used: seeking, reaching, receiving, and remaining in care. We purposively recruited individuals with a history of TBI (n = 6) and 15 healthcare professionals working with persons with TBI (seven individuals representing each of the five facilities, the heads of neurosurgery and emergency medical services and eight additional healthcare providers who participated in the focus group discussions). Quantitative data were analysed descriptively while qualitative data were analysed thematically, following inductive and deductive approaches. FINDINGS: Five healthcare facilities (three community health centres, one district hospital and one tertiary hospital) were surveyed. We conducted 13 individual interviews (six with persons with TBI history, seven with healthcare providers from each of the five facilities, neurosurgery department and emergency medical service heads and two focus group discussions involving eight additional healthcare providers. Participants mentioned that alcohol abuse and high neighbourhood crime could lead to delays in seeking and reaching care. The most significant barriers reported were related to receiving definitive care, mostly due to a lack of diagnostic imaging at community health centres and the district hospital, delays in interfacility transfers due to ambulance delays and human and infrastructural limitations. A barrier to remaining in care was the lack of clear communication between persons with TBI and health facilities regarding follow-up care. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that various individual-level, community and health system factors impacted TBI care. Efforts to improve TBI care and reduce injury-related morbidity and mortality must put in place more community-level security measures, institute alcohol regulatory policies, improve access to diagnostics and invest in hospital infrastructures.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in low-resource settings: a statement by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, supported by the AFEM, EUSEM, IFEM, and IFRC.

Most recommendations on cardiopulmonary resuscitation were developed from the perspective of high-resource settings with the aim of applying them in these settings. These so-called international guidelines are often not applicable in low-resource settings. Organisations including the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) have not sufficiently addressed this problem. We formed a collaborative group of experts from various settings including low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries, and conducted a prospective, multiphase consensus process to formulate this ILCOR Task Force statement. We highlight the discrepancy between current cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines and their applicability in low-resource settings. Successful existing initiatives such as the Helping Babies Breathe programme and the WHO Emergency Care Systems Framework are acknowledged. The concept of the chainmail of survival as an adaptive approach towards a framework of resuscitation, the potential enablers of and barriers to this framework, and gaps in the knowledge are discussed, focusing on low-resource settings. Action points are proposed, which might be expanded into future recommendations and suggestions, addressing a large diversity of addressees from caregivers to stakeholders. This statement serves as a stepping-stone to developing a truly global approach to guide resuscitation care and science, including in health-care systems worldwide.

An analysis of the clinical practice of emergency medicine in public emergency departments in Kenya.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the case mix, interventions, procedures and management of patients in public emergency departments (ED) in Kenya. METHODS: An observational study over 24 h, of patients who presented to 15 public ED during the 3-month period from 1 October to 31 December 2010. The study was conducted across Kenya in two national referral hospitals, five secondary level hospitals and eight primary level hospitals. All patients presenting alive to the ED during the 24-h study period that were seen by a doctor or clinical officer were included in the study. A data collection form was completed by the primary investigator at the time of the initial ED consultation documenting patient demographics, presenting complaints, investigations ordered, procedures done, initial diagnosis and outcome of ED consultation. RESULTS: Data on 1887 patient presentations were described. Adults (≥13 years) accounted for the majority (70%) of patients. Two peak age groups, 0-9 and 20-29 years, accounted for 27% and 25% of patients, respectively. Respiratory and trauma presentations each accounted for 21% of presentations, with a wide spread of other presentations. Over half (58%) of the patients were investigated in the department. 385 patients received immediate treatment in the ED before discharge. Fewer than one in three patients admitted or transferred to specialist units received any therapy in the ED. CONCLUSIONS: ED in Kenya provide care to an undifferentiated patient population yet most of the immediate therapy is provided only to patients with minor conditions who are subsequently discharged. Sicker patients have to await transfer to wards or specialist units to start receiving treatment.

Procedure competence versus number performed: a survey of graduate emergency medicine specialists in a developing nation.

BACKGROUND: Emergency medicine (EM) training programmes are being conducted around the world but no study has assessed the procedural competence of developing nations' EM trainees. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the number of core procedures and resuscitations performed and describe the perceived procedural competency of graduates of Africa's first EM registrarship at the University of Cape Town/Stellenbosch University (UCT/SUN) in Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS: All 30 graduates from the first four classes in the UCT/SUN EM programme (2007-10) were asked to complete a written, self-administered survey on the number of procedures needed for competency, the number of procedures performed during registrarship and the perceived competence in each procedure ranked on a five-point Likert scale. The procedures selected were the 10 core procedures and four types of resuscitations as defined by the US-based Residency Review Committee. Results were compiled and analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Twenty-seven (90%) completed surveys. For most core procedures and all resuscitations, the number of procedures reported by respondents far exceeded the Residency Review Committee minimum. The three procedures not meeting the minimum were internal cardiac pacing, cricothyrotomy and periocardiocentesis. Respondents reported perceived competence in most procedures and all resuscitations. CONCLUSIONS: EM trainees in a South Africa registrarship report a high number of procedures performed for most procedures and all resuscitations. As medical education moves to the era of direct observation and other methods of assessment, more studies are needed to define and ensure procedural competence in trainees of nascent EM programmes.

Defining and identifying critical elements of, and lessons learned from addressing, 'operational readiness' for public health emergency events, including COVID-19: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Much is known around public health preparedness and response phases. However, between the two phases is operational readiness that comprises the immediate actions needed to respond to a developing risk or hazard. Currently, emergency readiness is embedded in multiple frameworks and policy documents related to the health emergency cycle. However, knowledge about operational readiness' critical readiness components and actions required by countries to respond to public health eminent threat is not well known. Therefore, we aim to define and identify the critical elements of 'operational readiness' for public health emergencies, including COVID-19, and identify lessons learnt from addressing it, to inform the WHO Operational Readiness Framework. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. Reporting will be according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science databases and grey literature will be searched and exported into an online systematic review software (eg, Rayyan in this case) for review. The review team, which apart from scoping review methodological experts include content experts in health systems and public health and emergency medicine, prepared an a priori study protocol in consultation with WHO representatives. ATLAS.ti V.9 will be used to conduct thematic data analysis as well as store, organise and retrieve data. Data analysis and presentation will be carried out by five reviewers. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This review will reveal new insights, knowledge and lessons learnt that will translate into an operational framework for readiness actions. In consultation with WHO, findings will be disseminated as appropriate (eg, through professional bodies, conferences and research papers). No ethics approvals are required as no humans will be involved in data collection. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: This rapid scoping review has been registered on Open Science Framework (doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/6SYAH).

Taxi driver training in Madagascar: the first step in developing a functioning prehospital emergency care system.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital care in developing countries is severely lacking. Few countries can afford the relatively expensive formalised Western model of a prehospital emergency medical system. The WHO has highlighted the development of layperson first responder programmes as the most basic step in the development of a functioning prehospital system. AIM: To describe the first training programme of its kind, run in Mahajanga, Madagascar. The faculty was invited by Mahajanga Medical School. METHODS AND RESULTS: Local input was taken into account in developing the curriculum. 26 taxi drivers were invited to attend in cooperation with the local municipality. The faculty consisted of five instructors from the Division of Emergency Medicine and EMSSA, plus local doctors from University Hospital Mahajanga. The 1-day course included workshops on prehospital scene management, bleeding and broken bones, immobilisation and patient movement, and labour and delivery. The workshops made use of commonly available items only including packets, string and towels; French and Malagasy translators were available throughout. CONCLUSIONS: Both faculty and candidates deemed the course a success and plans for formal evaluation of knowledge and skill retention are underway. Future plans are to continue the training using local instructors and in rural districts.

Validation of weight estimation by age and length based methods in the Western Cape, South Africa population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate four paediatric weight estimation methods (APLS, Luscombe and Owens, Best Guess and Broselow tape) in order to determine which are accurate for weight estimation in South African children. METHOD: From a database of 2832 children aged 1-10 years seen at Red Cross Hospital in Cape Town, measured weight was compared to estimated weights from all four methods. RESULTS: APLS formula and the Broselow Tape showed the best correlation with measured weight. Mean error was 3.3% for APLS (for 1-10-year olds) and 0.9% for Broselow tape (children <145 cm length and <35 kg). Both the Best Guess and Luscombe and Owens formulae tended to overestimate weight (15.4% and 12.4%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The Broselow tape and APLS estimation methods are most accurate in estimating weight in the Western Cape paediatric population, even though they have a small tendency to underestimate weight. Clinicians need to bear in mind that none of the formulae are infallible and constant reassessment and clinical judgement should be used, as well as a measured weight as soon as possible in an emergency situation.