Admission rates in emergency departments in Geneva during tennis broadcasting: a retrospective study

Jorge César Correia,Hervé Spechbach,Olivia Braillard,Eric Gerstel,Christophe Combescure

doi:10.1186/s12873-018-0209-y

Jorge César Correia, Hervé Spechbach + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-018-0209-y

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Abstract

BackgroundLiterature provides mixed results regarding the influence of large-scale sporting events on emergency department attendance. To contribute to the research on the subject, we sought to evaluate whether the broadcasting of major tennis tournaments, one of the most popular sports in Switzerland, has an impact on patient admission rates in emergency units in Geneva including 1) type of match 2) the role of a Swiss player, 3) degree of triage, 4) reason of attendance and 5) age of patients.MethodsAdmission rates between periods with tennis matches regarding the semi-finals and finals of 3 major tennis tournaments were compared to equivalent periods without matches from May 2013 to August 2017. Patient admission data was retrieved retrospectively from administrative databases of two Outpatient Emergency Units in Geneva. Patients’ admission rates in periods with and without a tennis match were investigated using a negative binomial regression model with mixed effects.ResultsWe observed a statistically significant decrease (− 10%, 95% CI -17 to − 2, p = 0.015) in admission rates in periods with a tennis match compared to periods without a tennis match, more pronounced during finals (− 15%, 95% CI -26 to − 3, p = 0.017) than during semi-finals (− 7%, − 16 to 2, p = 0.13). In addition, this effect was more pronounced in patients aged between 26 to 64 years of age, a category representing professionnally active people. No modification in the admission rates was detected in the hours preceding and following the matches, nor in type of consultations (traumatology vs non traumatology related admissions).ConclusionAlthough modest, the results support the hypothesis that the broadcasting of large-scale sporting events such as tennis matches decreases admission rates in emergency units. Further research is required to explore for a potential causal relationship.

Highlights

IntroductionTo contribute to the research on the subject, we sought to evaluate whether the broadcasting of major tennis tournaments, one of the most popular sports in Switzerland, has an impact on patient admission rates in emergency units in Geneva including 1) type of match 2) the role of a Swiss player, 3) degree of triage, 4) reason of attendance and 5) age of patients
Literature provides mixed results regarding the influence of large-scale sporting events on emergency department attendance
In Switzerland, we observed that the broadcasting of Tennis matches was associated with a decrease in patient admission rates

Summary

Introduction

To contribute to the research on the subject, we sought to evaluate whether the broadcasting of major tennis tournaments, one of the most popular sports in Switzerland, has an impact on patient admission rates in emergency units in Geneva including 1) type of match 2) the role of a Swiss player, 3) degree of triage, 4) reason of attendance and 5) age of patients. With demographic changes, increasing life expectancy and greater personal and clinical expectations, attendance rates in EDs have been steadily increasing in Switzerland and worldwide [1,2,3,4]. This leads to several challenges such as overcrowding that affects patient care, as well as a. They report that the number of patient complaints dropped by 30% and the number of patients who left without being seen decreased by 18.5% [21].

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