Development and Evaluation of the Resuscitation Protocol for Dyspneic Patients in the Emergency Medical Center

일개 응급의료센터의 소생실에 입실한 호흡곤란 환자를 위한 임상 프로토콜 개발 및 적용

Purpose: Resuscitation rooms in emergency department are places for time-critical tasks. This study aimed 1) to develop a resuscitation protocol for dyspneic patients and 2) to evaluate the effect of the resuscitation protocol for dyspneic patients in improving clinical performances. Methods: A panel of experts including emergency physicians and nurses developed a resuscitation protocol for dyspneic patients which included a list of critical interventions and time-limits. The resuscitation protocol was implemented in a emergency medical center for two months. Clinical performances of health care providers were compared by analyzing video-recorded clinical performances. Results: The resuscitation protocol consisted of four steps: Initial treatments within 5 minutes, main treatments within 15 minutes, diagnostic tests within 30 minutes, and disposition within 60 minutes. A total of 43 dyspneic patients (23 patients experimental group, 20 patients control group) were included for the analysis of the clinical performance change. Clinical performance rates were improved significantly from control group (66.71%) to experimental group (82.41%) after implementing the resuscitation protocol (Z=-3.09, p=.004). Conclusion: The resuscitation protocol developed for dyspneic patients improved clinical performance rates of health care providers. Further development of clinical protocols for other emergent cases at resuscitation rooms are strongly recommended.