Support and Assessment for Fall Emergency Referrals (SAFER 1): cluster randomised trial of computerised clinical decision support for paramedics.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of Computerised Clinical Decision Support (CCDS) for paramedics attending older people who fall.

Design

Cluster trial randomised by paramedic; modelling.

Setting

13 ambulance stations in two UK emergency ambulance services.

Participants

42 of 409 eligible paramedics, who attended 779 older patients for a reported fall.

Interventions

Intervention paramedics received CCDS on Tablet computers to guide patient care. Control paramedics provided care as usual. One service had already installed electronic data capture.

Main outcome measures

Effectiveness: patients referred to falls service, patient reported quality of life and satisfaction, processes of care.

Safety

Further emergen

SUBMITTER: Snooks HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4162545 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature