Ability of the Australian general public to identify common emergency medical situations: Results of an online survey of a nationally representative sample

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the Australian general public’s ability to identify common medical emergencies as requiring an emergency response. MethodsAn online survey asked participants to identify likely medical treatment pathways they would take for 17 hypothetical medical scenarios (eight emergency and nine non-emergency). The number and type of emergency scenarios participants correctly suggested warranted an emergency medical response was examined. Participants included Australian residents (aged>18 years; n = 5264) who had never worked as an Australian registered medical doctor, nurse or paramedic. ResultsMost emergencies were predominately correctly classified as requiring emergency responses (e.g. Severe chest pain, 95% correct). However, non-emergency medical responses were often chosen for some emergency scenarios, such as a child suffering from a scalp haematoma (67%), potential meningococcal disease (57%), a box jellyfish sting (40%), a paracetamol overdose (37%), and mild chest pain (26%). Participants identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander suggested a non-emergency response to emergency scenarios 29% more often compared with non-indigenous participants. ConclusionsEducational interventions targeting specific medical symptoms may work to alleviate delayed emergency medical intervention. This research highlights a particular need for improving symptom identification and healthcare system confidence amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.