The delivery of a health promotion intervention by a public health promotion specialist improves patient satisfaction in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to introduce a public health promotion specialist (PHPS) into the hospital emergency department (ED) to provide a brief health promotion intervention to patients and to determine the effect of the initiative on patient satisfaction. METHODS: Patients in the intervention group were offered and received a 5- to 10-minute presentation about exercise, heart health, healthy eating on a budget, or weight control by a trained PHPS. Patients in the control group received usual ED care. Both groups completed the patient satisfaction instrument. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to compare the two groups on patient satisfaction questions and to identify predictors of the likelihood of patients referring others to the ED. RESULTS: Subjects in the intervention group were more likely to rate the services as great in areas of patient satisfaction such as provider listening, staff being friendly and helpful, comfort and safety, and privacy. Those in the intervention group were three times more likely than those in the control group to state that they would refer others to the ED. CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion and disease prevention interventions carried out by PHPS in the ED can improve patient satisfaction.

An assessment of nurses' knowledge of botulism.

OBJECTIVE: To assess nurses' knowledge of botulism, a Centers for Disease Control Category A bioterrorism agent, one case of which constitutes an emergency. DESIGN: The study utilized survey research. SAMPLE: The cluster sample included 1,414 registered nurses. MEASURE: The survey gathered demographic data and nurses' knowledge of the background, manifestation and management of botulism. RESULTS: The mean percentage of correct answers for the sample was 25.95%, with a standard deviation (SD) of ±19.89%. Only 90 (6.3%) achieved 60% or more correct. Educational preparation, experience, specialty/area of practice and whether nurses had a class in disaster medicine were also examined and although differences were noted, none of these factors accounted for a score of 60% or above. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate the need for an assessment of the current education nurses receive about botulism.