TY - JOUR
T1 - Do patients refusing transport remember descriptions of risks after initial advanced life support assessment?
AU - Schmidt, Terri A.
AU - Mann, N. Clay
AU - Federiuk, Carol S.
AU - Atcheson, Regina R.
AU - Fuller, David
AU - Christie, Michael J.
PY - 1998/8
Y1 - 1998/8
N2 - Objective: To determine patient recall and understanding of instructions given to patients who refuse transport after initial paramedic assessment and medical treatment. Methods: Following patient consent, a phone interview was completed for consecutive persons living in a large urban area for whom 9-1- 1 was contacted but who subsequently refused transport after advanced life support (ALS) assessment. Subjects were asked about their recall of explained risks and benefits of transport, their understanding of those risks at the time of assessment, and subsequent use of medical care, including hospitalization. Results: From October 1, 1996, to February 23, 1997, 324 people refused transport after ALS arrival. Sixty-eight people could not be contacted, providing a response rate of 79% (256/324). Six percent were subsequently admitted to the hospital for the same problem and an additional 59% sought care from a health care provider (66 ED visits, 63 personal physician, 16 urgent care, 5 other). There were no unexpected deaths. Ninety (35%) respondents were still experiencing symptoms at the time of phone contact. Despite the routine practice of providing a verbal explanation of risks and written instructions, only 141 (55%) recalled receiving written instructions and 56 (22%) recalled an explanation of risks. Twenty-six percent believed they did not fully understand their conditions or circumstances surrounding the 9-1-1 call when they refused transport and 18% would now take an ambulance if the same incident were to recur. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients refusing transport do not recall receiving verbal or written instructions and would reconsider their transport decision, raising doubts about people's ability to make informed decisions at a time of great vulnerability. The majority of patients accessed health care after refusing transport and 6% were hospitalized.
AB - Objective: To determine patient recall and understanding of instructions given to patients who refuse transport after initial paramedic assessment and medical treatment. Methods: Following patient consent, a phone interview was completed for consecutive persons living in a large urban area for whom 9-1- 1 was contacted but who subsequently refused transport after advanced life support (ALS) assessment. Subjects were asked about their recall of explained risks and benefits of transport, their understanding of those risks at the time of assessment, and subsequent use of medical care, including hospitalization. Results: From October 1, 1996, to February 23, 1997, 324 people refused transport after ALS arrival. Sixty-eight people could not be contacted, providing a response rate of 79% (256/324). Six percent were subsequently admitted to the hospital for the same problem and an additional 59% sought care from a health care provider (66 ED visits, 63 personal physician, 16 urgent care, 5 other). There were no unexpected deaths. Ninety (35%) respondents were still experiencing symptoms at the time of phone contact. Despite the routine practice of providing a verbal explanation of risks and written instructions, only 141 (55%) recalled receiving written instructions and 56 (22%) recalled an explanation of risks. Twenty-six percent believed they did not fully understand their conditions or circumstances surrounding the 9-1-1 call when they refused transport and 18% would now take an ambulance if the same incident were to recur. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients refusing transport do not recall receiving verbal or written instructions and would reconsider their transport decision, raising doubts about people's ability to make informed decisions at a time of great vulnerability. The majority of patients accessed health care after refusing transport and 6% were hospitalized.
KW - EMS
KW - Emergency medical services
KW - Paramedic
KW - Patient recall
KW - Refusal
KW - Risks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031847543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031847543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02506.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02506.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 9715241
AN - SCOPUS:0031847543
SN - 1069-6563
VL - 5
SP - 796
EP - 801
JO - Academic Emergency Medicine
JF - Academic Emergency Medicine
IS - 8
ER -