International Emergency Nursing Vol. 57 July 2021
Inequalities and short-term outcome among patients assessed as non urgent
in a Swedish ambulance service setting
Dublin Core
Title
International Emergency Nursing Vol. 57 July 2021
Inequalities and short-term outcome among patients assessed as non urgent
in a Swedish ambulance service setting
Inequalities and short-term outcome among patients assessed as non urgent
in a Swedish ambulance service setting
Subject
Emergency medical services, Non conveyance, Nursing assessment, Pre-hospital care
Description
Background: Within the ambulance service, assessment and referral of patients, especially those with non urgent conditions, is a difficult and complicated task. Studies indicate that 12 to 20 percent of all patients are subjected to non-conveyance and discharged at the scene. There is lack of knowledge of what characterizes conveyed and non-conveyed patients. The aim of this study was to explore non-urgent patients who are conveyed or not conveyed to hospital and the short-term outcome of non conveyance in a Swedish Ambulance Service setting.
Methods: This study has a descriptive, cross-sectional design. All patients who were prioritized as non-urgent
were eligible for the study and 1,048 patients were followed-up in an administrative data system that stores
information about the patients’ trajectory in both primary and hospital care.
Results: More women than men were subjected to non-conveyance and most of the non-conveyed patients were left at home out-of-hours. 53% sought care again within 72 h. A large proportion of the non-conveyed patients were assessed as having unspecific symptoms.
Conclusions: There are prominent gender differences in the context of non-conveyance where unspecific symptoms seem to be the main reason for being left at home. As many of the non-conveyed patients who did not
receive any advice about further investigation or intervention sought care again within 72 h, the assessments may be insufficient or inaccurate.
Methods: This study has a descriptive, cross-sectional design. All patients who were prioritized as non-urgent
were eligible for the study and 1,048 patients were followed-up in an administrative data system that stores
information about the patients’ trajectory in both primary and hospital care.
Results: More women than men were subjected to non-conveyance and most of the non-conveyed patients were left at home out-of-hours. 53% sought care again within 72 h. A large proportion of the non-conveyed patients were assessed as having unspecific symptoms.
Conclusions: There are prominent gender differences in the context of non-conveyance where unspecific symptoms seem to be the main reason for being left at home. As many of the non-conveyed patients who did not
receive any advice about further investigation or intervention sought care again within 72 h, the assessments may be insufficient or inaccurate.
Creator
Lena Forsell, Anna Forsberg, Annika Kisch, Andreas Rantala
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.
Date
July 2021
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Rights
1755-599X
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
International Emergency Nursing Vol. 57 July 2021
Files
Citation
Lena Forsell, Anna Forsberg, Annika Kisch, Andreas Rantala , “International Emergency Nursing Vol. 57 July 2021
Inequalities and short-term outcome among patients assessed as non urgent
in a Swedish ambulance service setting,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 5, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1680.
Inequalities and short-term outcome among patients assessed as non urgent
in a Swedish ambulance service setting,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 5, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1680.