You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Original Article
A survey of information given to head-injured patients on direct discharge from emergency departments in Scotland
  1. Jacques Kerr1,
  2. Ian J Swann2,
  3. Brian Pentland3
  1. 1Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
  2. 2Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK
  3. 3Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 J Kerr
 Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK; jacques.kerr{at}luht.scot.nhs.uk

Abstract

Aim: To survey the information provided to head-injured patients on discharge from emergency departments (EDs) in Scotland.

Methods: EDs throughout Scotland were asked to supply a copy of their head injury advice pamphlet for analysis. Each pamphlet was assessed against a template and an Excel spreadsheet was created.

Results: All 30 (100%) Scottish EDs responded. The frequency with which specific features appeared varied widely, with most pamphlets concentrating on emergency features, with less emphasis on postconcussion symptoms.

Conclusions: Head injury discharge advice should be standardised throughout EDs, with more emphasis given to postconcussion features.

  • ED, emergency department
  • MHI, mild head injury
  • PCS, postconcussion syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.2006.044230

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    Linked Articles

    • Primary Survey
      Primary Survey
      Simon Carley
      Emergency Medicine Journal 2007; 24 313-313 Published Online First: 23 Apr 2007.