Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T14:12:32.720Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Preparedness of Primary Healthcare Centers for Critical Emergency Situations in Southwest Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Mustafa Yorganci  and
H. Yaman
Mustafa Yorganci
Affiliation:
Health Department, Department of Emergency Services, Denizli, Turkey
H. Yaman*
Affiliation:
Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
*
Associate Professor University of Akdeniz Faculty of Medicine Department of Family Medicine 07059 Antalya, Turkey E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

Primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) frequently are contacted for emergency reasons and are expected to provide basic and advanced life support during emergency situations.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to assess the availability of emergency equipment and the knowledge of the staff working in PHCCs.

Methods:

The survey was conducted in 21 PHCCs located in the rural city of Isparta, Turkey, in 2001. The availability of emergency equipment, emergency drugs, intravenous parenteral solutions, and diagnostic-therapeutic equipment was evaluated. Knowledge of basic life support of the staff (n = 195) was evaluated using a 10-item test.

Results:

Two (9.5%) PHCs had a complete emergency kit with an airways bag, mask, intravenous parenteral solutions, emergency drugs, and other diagnostic equipment. Emergency equipment was easily accessible in 19 PHCCs (90.5%), while in the remaining centers, the equipment and drugs were stored in locked cabinets.The staff that was evaluated consisted of 43 doctors (22%), 132 nurses and midwifes (67%), and 20 health officers (11%). Doctors scored the highest knowledge score (65.5%), followed by nurses and midwives (58.6% and 56.7%, respectively), and health officers (52.5%).

Conclusions:

Primary healthcare centers were not prepared to provide advanced life support. Knowledge scores were low and the staff was in need of basic life support training. Further arrangements must be stressed to make PHCC's “emergency-friendly centers” in Isparta, Turkey.

Keywords

cardiopulmonary resuscitationcommunity healthemergency medical serviceshospital equipmenthospital personnelknowledgepreparednessrural healthTurkey
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 342 - 345
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Pepe, PE, Fowler, RL, Roppolo, LP, Wigginton, JG: Clinical review: Reappraising the concept of immediate defibrillatory attempts for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Crit Care 2004;8(1):41–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Soo, L, Smith, N, Gray, D: The place of general practitioners in the management of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation 1999;43(1):57–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Hanley, K, Dowling, J, Bury, G, Murphy, A: The role of automated external defibrillators in rural general practice. Br J Gen Prac 1999;49(441):297–298.Google ScholarPubMed
4.Dyson, E, Smith, G: Common faults in resuscitation equipment. Guidelines for checking equipment and drugs used in adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation 2002;55:137–149.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. BASICS Equipment Committee: An emergency medical starter pack to assist the ‘new’ immediate care practitioner. Available at http://www.basics.org.uk/equipment/index.htm. Accessed 05 May 2003.Google Scholar
6. Resuscitation Council (UK): Guidance for clinical practice and training in primary care—July 2001. Available at http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/cpatpc.htm#equip. Accessed 05 May 2007.Google Scholar
7.Meal, AG, Pringle, M, Hammersley, V: Time changes in new cases of ischaemic heart disease in general practice. Fam Pract 2000;17(5):394–400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Johnston, CL, , Coulthard, Schluter, PJ, Dick, ML: Medical emergencies in general practice in southeast Queensland: Prevalence and practice preparedness. Med J Aust 2001;175(2):99–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Barton, PJM, Wilson, P: Emergencies in the community: General practicioners' confidence levels and learning needs. A confidential survey. Prehosp Emerg Med 1997;1:189–193.Google Scholar
10.Sommers, GT, Maxfield, N, Drinkwater, FJ: General practioner preparedness to repond to medical disaster: Part 1: Skills and equipment. Austr Fam Physician 1999;28(2):s10–s14.Google Scholar