Environmental influences on patient presentations: Considerations for research and evaluation at mass-gathering events

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ABSTRACT

Aim: This paper discusses the need for consistency in mass-gathering research and evaluation from an environmental reporting perspective.

Background: Mass gatherings occur frequently throughout the world. Having an understanding of the complexities of mass gatherings is important to inform health services about the possible required health resources. Factors within the environmental, psychosocial, and biomedical domains influence the usage of health services at mass gatherings. A minimum data set (MDS) has been proposed to standardize collection of biomedical data across various mass gatherings, and there is a need for an environmental component. The environmental domain includes factors such as the nature of the event, availability of drugs or alcohol, venue characteristics, and meteorological factors.

Method: This research used an integrative literature review design. Manuscripts were collected using keyword searches from databases and journal content pages from 2003 through 2018. Data were analyzed and categorized using the existing MDS as a framework.

Results: In total, 39 manuscripts were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Conclusion: In collecting environmental data from mass gatherings, there must be an agreed-upon MDS. A set of variables can be used to collect de-identified environmental variables for the purpose of making comparisons across societies for mass-gathering events (MGEs).



Hutton A, Ranse J, Grey K, Turris S, Lund A, Munn BM. (2019). Environmental influences on patient presentations: Considerations for research and evaluation at mass-gathering events. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.

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Frequency and location of mass gatherings in relation to emergency departments: A descriptive study

The full-text article is available here


ABSTRACT

Introduction: As the number of mass gathering events increases, so too does the reliance on tertiary emergency healthcare services. Approximately 1% of event attendees may present to a local emergency department for clinical assessment and/or management. Often, these attendees are transported by ambulance services. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency and location of events held in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. This information may be used by event and health service personnel to further inform event planning such as staffing, equipment and economic considerations when large events in the community occur.

Methods: This descriptive study used data scraping of an established data warehouse to identify events held in the 2017 calendar year by name, type, location (within the state of NSW) and duration. Using Google Maps, the distance and travel time between these events and the nearest emergency department (ED) was determined. Data was analysed using simple descriptive statistics.

Results: Of the 722 events in NSW analysed, 395 were single-day events. The majority of these were concerts (n=284, 39%), followed by festivals (n=259, 36%) and sporting events (n=176, 24%). The average distance and time to arrive at an ED from an event was 15.0 (±35.8) kilometres and 15.4 (±27.2) minutes, respectively. 

Conclusion: Existing literature has highlighted that event attendees are regularly transported to emergency departments from events. This research has demonstrated that events occur frequently with varying vicinity to nearest EDs, with the majority of events occurring near territory care centres. However, there is limited research on the impact on emergency healthcare services resulting from an event.



Hutton A, Ranse J, Lipscomb R, Hutton G, Rabb H, Crilly J. (2019). Frequency and location of mass gathering events in relation to emergency departments: A descriptive study. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine.

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