ملخص
AIM: Ankle injuries are commonly seen in the emergency department (ED) and contribute to overcrowding. In Oman, injuries are a leading cause of years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years, and pose a burden to the healthcare system. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ED triage nurse-led application of the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OARs) toward improving the healthcare outcomes of ankle injury patients.
METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was used to collect data (demographic characteristics, waiting time, length of stay, and number of radiographic tests) from 96 patients. The intervention group (n = 46) received ED triage nurse-led assessment and initiation of radiographic tests based on the OARs. The control group (n = 50) received usual care.
RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 26.4 ± 7.90 years. The main causes of ankle injuries were football (36%), falls (31%) and twisting while walking (24%). There was a significant difference in number of ankle X-rays (t = 6.19; p < .001); length of stay (U = 549; p < .001); and waiting time (U = 167; p < .001) between the control and intervention group. The intervention reduced the mean waiting time and length of stay by 25.09 and 41.01 min, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Application of the OARs by the ED triage nurse can decrease the number of unnecessary radiographic tests, waiting time and length of stay in the ED. Nurses' utilization of evidence-based clinical decision-making tools can improve ED care outcomes of common acute conditions such as ankle injuries.
| اللغة الأصلية | English |
|---|---|
| رقم المقال | e12270 |
| الصفحات (من إلى) | e12270 |
| دورية | Japan Journal of Nursing Science |
| مستوى الصوت | 17 |
| رقم الإصدار | 1 |
| المعرِّفات الرقمية للأشياء | |
| حالة النشر | Published - يناير 1 2020 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
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