TY - JOUR
T1 - Emergency department equipment for obese patients
T2 - Perceptions of adequacy
AU - Singh, Navneet
AU - Arthur, Heather M.
AU - Worster, Andrew
AU - Iacobellis, Gianluca
AU - Sharma, Arya M.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - Title. Emergency department equipment for obese patients: perceptions of adequacy Aim. This study reports an investigation to assess patients' and nurses' perceptions of equipment adequacy for obese patients presenting at an emergency department and to assess nurses' knowledge of equipment weight limits in the emergency department. Background. The increasing weight of populations in many societies is a challenge to healthcare providers and facilities. Emergency department equipment, specifically, may be inadequate for patient care. Methods. Two questionnaires were developed. One was administered to 134 emergency department patients with suspected cardiac ischaemia; the other was administered to their respective nurses. Patient and nurse equipment adequacy scores were computed. Patients' self-reported height and weight were used to calculate body mass index. Waist circumference was measured. The data were collected in Canada in 2005. Findings. Patient equipment adequacy scores correlated inversely with both body mass index (r = -0·55, 95% CI = -0·70 to -0·41, P < 0·01) and waist circumference (r = -0·62, 95% CI = -0·75 to -0·48, P < 0·01). Nurse equipment adequacy scores were also inversely related to patient body mass index (r = -0·34, 95% CI = -0·50 to -0·18, P < 0·01) and waist circumference (r = -0·40, 95% CI = -0·56 to -0·24, P < 0·01). There was a weak correlation between nurse and patient equipment adequacy scores (r = 0·27, 95% CI = -0·44 to -0·10, P < 0·01). Small minorities of nurses reported accurate knowledge of weight limits for beds, commodes and toilets. Conclusion. Specialized equipment and staff education are needed for adequate management of obese patients in the emergency department.
AB - Title. Emergency department equipment for obese patients: perceptions of adequacy Aim. This study reports an investigation to assess patients' and nurses' perceptions of equipment adequacy for obese patients presenting at an emergency department and to assess nurses' knowledge of equipment weight limits in the emergency department. Background. The increasing weight of populations in many societies is a challenge to healthcare providers and facilities. Emergency department equipment, specifically, may be inadequate for patient care. Methods. Two questionnaires were developed. One was administered to 134 emergency department patients with suspected cardiac ischaemia; the other was administered to their respective nurses. Patient and nurse equipment adequacy scores were computed. Patients' self-reported height and weight were used to calculate body mass index. Waist circumference was measured. The data were collected in Canada in 2005. Findings. Patient equipment adequacy scores correlated inversely with both body mass index (r = -0·55, 95% CI = -0·70 to -0·41, P < 0·01) and waist circumference (r = -0·62, 95% CI = -0·75 to -0·48, P < 0·01). Nurse equipment adequacy scores were also inversely related to patient body mass index (r = -0·34, 95% CI = -0·50 to -0·18, P < 0·01) and waist circumference (r = -0·40, 95% CI = -0·56 to -0·24, P < 0·01). There was a weak correlation between nurse and patient equipment adequacy scores (r = 0·27, 95% CI = -0·44 to -0·10, P < 0·01). Small minorities of nurses reported accurate knowledge of weight limits for beds, commodes and toilets. Conclusion. Specialized equipment and staff education are needed for adequate management of obese patients in the emergency department.
KW - Body mass index
KW - Emergency department
KW - Empirical research report
KW - Hospital equipment
KW - Nurses
KW - Obese patients
KW - Quality of care
KW - Questionnaires
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04266.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04266.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 17543014
AN - SCOPUS:34250733948
VL - 59
SP - 140
EP - 145
JO - Journal of Advanced Nursing
JF - Journal of Advanced Nursing
SN - 0309-2402
IS - 2
ER -