Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32439739›Full record

ArticleBMJ open quality2020

Understanding quality systems in the South African prehospital emergency medical services: a multiple exploratory case study.

Ian Howard, Peter Cameron, Lee Wallis, Maaret Castrén, Veronica Lindström

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open quality, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.

Ian HowardDepartment of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ianhoward@outlook.com.
Peter CameronPublic Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Lee WallisDivision of Emergency Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa.
Maaret CastrénDepartment of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.
Veronica LindströmDepartment of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Karolinska Institutet · SEMonash University · AUStellenbosch University · ZAUniversity of Helsinki · FI

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn South Africa (SA), prehospital emergency care is delivered by emergency medical services (EMS) across the country. Within these services, quality systems are in their infancy, and issues regarding transparency, reliability and contextual relevance have been cited as common concerns, exacerbated by poor communication, and ineffective leadership. As a result, we undertook a study to assess the current state of quality systems in EMS in SA, so as to determine priorities for initial focus regarding their development.

methodsA multiple exploratory case study design was used that employed the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 18-point Quality Program Assessment Tool as both a formative assessment and semistructured interview guide using four provincial government EMS and one national private service.

resultsServices generally scored higher for

conclusionUnderstanding and accounting for these factors will be key to ensuring both successful implementation and ongoing utilisation of healthcare quality systems in emergency care. The result will not only provide a more efficient and effective service, but also positively impact patient safety and quality of care of the services delivered.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health CareEmergency Medical ServicesHumansPatient SafetyQuality Assurance, Health CareQuality ImprovementSouth Africaambulancesgovernanceprehospital carequalitative research

Identifiers

PMID32439739
PMCPMC7247383
OpenAlexW3027177876

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.