Factors affecting prehospital time delay of the injured patients arriving at the Emergency Department of Beni-Suef University Hospital in Egypt: A cross-sectional study.

Doaa Mahmoud Khalil,Hesham Ahmed Nafady,Lamiaa Saleh,Ahmed Arafa,Elmorsy Elmorsy,Junaid Ahmad Bhatti

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252044

Doaa Mahmoud Khalil, Hesham Ahmed Nafady + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252044

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Jun 2, 2021
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Beni-Suef University, Osaka University

Abstract

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the factors affecting the prehospital time delay of the injured patients arriving at the Emergency Department of Beni-Suef University Hospital in Upper Egypt.Materials and methodsIn this cross-sectional study, the following data were retrieved from the hospital records of 632 injured patients between 1/1/2018 and 31/3/2018: age, sex, residence, means of transportation to the hospital, prehospital time delay, consciousness level on admission, source of injury, and type of worst injury.ResultsThe prehospital time delay (>one hour) of the injured patients was positively associated with age >60 years and rural residence but inversely associated with consciousness level with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 5.14 (2.26–11.68), 3.49 (2.22–5.48), and 0.56 (0.32–0.96), respectively.ConclusionThe prehospital time delay of the injured patients arriving at the Emergency Department of Beni-Suef University Hospital in Egypt was associated with old age, rural residence, and consciousness level.

Highlights

The incidence of injuries increased during the period between 1990 and 2017 from 354 million to more than 520 million injuries
The prehospital time delay (>one hour) of the injured patients was positively associated with age >60 years and rural residence but inversely associated with consciousness level with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 5.14 (2.26–11.68), 3.49 (2.22–5.48), and 0.56 (0.32–0.96), respectively
The prehospital time delay of the injured patients arriving at the Emergency Department of Beni-Suef University Hospital in Egypt was associated with old age, rural residence, and consciousness level

Summary

Introduction

The incidence of injuries increased during the period between 1990 and 2017 from 354 million to more than 520 million injuries. Several factors are related to the outcome of the injured patients such as the age of patients, the seriousness of the injury, the consciousness level, and prehospital time delay [3] Based on these facts and given the wide difference in the injury outcome between low- and middleincome countries and high-income countries [4], determining the modifiable risk factors for unfavorable outcomes and in-depth investigation of their associations should be prioritized in low- and middle-income countries including Egypt. One of these factors; prehospital time delay and the resulting delay in the accessibility to emergency services can lead to delay in receiving proper management and bad outcomes [5, 6]

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Conclusion