Pathology requesting in a regional Australian Emergency Department; an observational study comparing current practice with college guidelines.
Aust J Rural Health
; 2024 Jun 13.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38867647
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
In 2018, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) produced a guideline to encourage appropriate pathology requesting in the Emergency Department (ED).OBJECTIVE:
To assess adherence to the ACEM/RCPA pathology testing guideline in a regional ED. METHODS, DESIGN, SETTING ANDPARTICIPANTS:
This was a retrospective observational study conducted at a regional Australian ED over 7 days. Adults with a presenting complaint encompassed by the guideline were included. All blood tests were audited against the guideline recommendations and classified as indicated or non-indicated. Chi-squared analyses were performed to explore the association between presenting complaint and non-indicated testing. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURE:
The primary outcome was the number of non-indicated blood tests.RESULTS:
Forty percent of tests ordered were not clinically indicated, with non-indicated testing occurring during 87% of encounters. The C-reactive protein (CRP) was the test most frequently ordered outside of guidelines (94% non-indicated). Patients presenting with lower abdominal pain accounted for nearly one-quarter of all non-indicated tests.CONCLUSIONS:
Blood tests were commonly requested outside of the guideline recommendations and interventions to improve pathology stewardship are required.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Aust J Rural Health
Asunto de la revista:
ENFERMAGEM
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia