Imlach Gunasekara Fiona, Butler Shaun, Cech Taisia, Curtis Elizabeth, Douglas Michael, Emmerson Lynda, Greenwood Rachel, Huse Sara, Jonggowisastro Julia, Lees Camilla, Li Yang, McConnell Daniel, Mogos Andreea, Azmy Nur I M, Newman Scotty, O'Donnell Kirstie
Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, Wellington 6024, New Zealand.
N Z Med J. 2011 Jun 10;124(1336):14-23.
To investigate staff perceptions of the burden of alcohol-related presentations on emergency departments (ED) in New Zealand and the impact on staff of alcohol-related ED presentations.
A survey of Wellington Regional Hospital ED staff was conducted using a written questionnaire to measure the impact of alcohol on: staff assault rates, perceived workload, quality of care, and staff mood. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six ED staff to further explore impacts of alcohol on ED, analysed using thematic analysis.
Forty-seven staff members responded to the questionnaire. Assault rates from alcohol-affected patients were high, particularly amongst nurses. These were mostly verbal assaults. Staff mood was negatively affected and perceptions of workload increased by alcohol-related presentations. Views on whether quality of care of intoxicated patients was affected were mixed although most reported a negative impact on other patients. Interviews confirmed the survey results, confirming the negative impacts of alcohol-related presentations on staff and on the treatment of both intoxicated and non-intoxicated patients.
This small exploratory study found that alcohol-related presentations have a negative impact on ED staff workload and safety, and may compromise treatment of all patients. More research is needed to corroborate these findings and to investigate policies to reduce the impacts of alcohol-related presentations in the ED.
调查新西兰急诊科工作人员对与酒精相关就诊情况负担的看法，以及与酒精相关的急诊科就诊情况对工作人员的影响。
采用书面问卷对惠灵顿地区医院急诊科工作人员进行调查，以衡量酒精对以下方面的影响：工作人员受攻击率、感知工作量、护理质量和工作人员情绪。此外，对六名急诊科工作人员进行了半结构化访谈，以进一步探讨酒精对急诊科的影响，并采用主题分析法进行分析。
47名工作人员回复了问卷。受酒精影响患者的攻击率很高，尤其是在护士中。这些大多是言语攻击。工作人员的情绪受到负面影响，与酒精相关的就诊情况使对工作量的感知增加。对于醉酒患者的护理质量是否受到影响，看法不一，不过大多数人报告称对其他患者有负面影响。访谈证实了调查结果，确认了与酒精相关的就诊情况对工作人员以及对醉酒和未醉酒患者治疗的负面影响。
这项小型探索性研究发现，与酒精相关的就诊情况对急诊科工作人员的工作量和安全有负面影响，并可能损害所有患者的治疗。需要更多研究来证实这些发现，并调查减少急诊科与酒精相关就诊情况影响的政策。
