A study exploring drug use and management of patients presenting to an inner city emergency department

Moody, Hilary; Binks, Simon; Salmon, Debra; Benger, Jonathan; Hoskins, Rebecca

Abstract

Patients who present to an emergency department (ED) with a problem related to illegal drug use can be difficult to identify and are perceived to generate a significant workload for staff. This study suggests that illicit drug use may be more common than previously reported and also that the impact on the ED is perceived by staff to be disproportionately high compared with the actual numbers of patients presenting with complaints related to illicit drug use. We conclude that the over estimation by staff is directly related to the challenges that staff working within the ED setting believe this group of patients pose. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2005
• Journal: Accident and Emergency Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0965-2302
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 147-153
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaen.2005.03.004
• Keywords: drug use, healthcare burden, emergency medicine
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1048938
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aaen.2005.03.004
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This paper, together with a linked paper (Binks et al 2005 Emergency Medicine Journal 22:872-3) contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges of managing patients presenting with a problem related to emergency drug use in emergency departments. Both papers illustrate Benger's involvement in UWE research teams.