RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A national survey of clinical practice for the management of whiplash-associated disorders in UK emergency departments
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 644
OP 647
DO 10.1136/emj.2008.065276
VO 26
IS 9
A1 S E Lamb
A1 M A Williams
A1 E Withers
A1 J Perry
A1 S Gates
A1 E Williamson
A1 M Underwood
A1 M Cooke
YR 2009
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/26/9/644.abstract
AB Objective: To undertake a national survey to determine current practice for the management of whiplash injuries in UK emergency departments (ED).Methods: Postal questionnaire survey. 316 lead consultants from all UK ED with annual new attendances of over 50 000 people were asked to indicate the use of a range of treatments and the frequency with which these treatments were used. Samples of written advice were requested and content analysis was conducted and compared with survey responses.Results: The response rate was 79% (251/316). The intervention most frequently used was verbal advice to exercise, reported by 84% of respondents for most or all cases, and advice against the use of a collar (83%). Other treatments reported as being used frequently were written advice and anti-inflammatory medication. 106 consultants (42%) provided a sample of written materials. Reference to expected recovery and encouragement for early return to activities were included in less than 6%. Nearly 50% of written materials contained information on how to use a soft collar and 61% contained information on solicitors and pursuing a personal injury claim. There were important differences between reported verbal behaviours and written advice.Conclusion: Verbal advice is the primary method for managing whiplash injuries in ED and is usually supplemented by written advice. Within individual hospitals there is a lack of consistency between verbal and written advice. The promotion of personal injury claims is a common feature of written advice. Research is required to develop effective and consistent models of advice.