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Drug and Alcohol Related Patient Presentations to Emergency Departments during Sporting Mass-Gathering Events: An Integrative Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2020

Catherine Delany*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Julia Crilly
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Jamie Ranse
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
*
Catherine Delany, RN, BNurs, GradCert EmergNurs, Emergency Department, LG- D Block, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Blvd, Southport, QLD, 4215, E-mail: catherine.delany@health.qld.gov.au
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Abstract

Background:

Drug and alcohol consumption at sporting mass-gathering events (MGEs) has become part of the spectator culture in some countries. The direct and indirect effects of drug and alcohol intoxication at such MGEs has proven problematic to in-event health services as well as local emergency departments (EDs). With EDs already under significant strain from increasing patient presentations, resulting in access block, it is important to understand the impact of sporting and other MGEs on local health services to better inform future planning and provision of health care delivery.

Aim:

The aim of this review was to explore the impact of sporting MGEs on local health services with a particular focus on drug and alcohol related presentations.

Method:

A well-established integrative literature review methodology was undertaken. Six electronic databases and the Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (PDM) journal were searched to identify primary articles related to the aim of the review. Articles were included if published in English, from January 2008 through July 2019, and focused on a sporting MGE, mass-gathering health, EDs, as well as drug and alcohol related presentations.

Results:

Seven papers met the criteria for inclusion with eight individual sporting MGEs reported. The patient presentation rate (PPR) to in-event health services ranged from 0.18/1,000 at a rugby game to 41.9/1,000 at a recreational bicycle ride. The transport to hospital rate (TTHR) ranged from 0.02/1,000 to 19/1,000 at the same events. Drug and alcohol related presentations from sporting MGEs contributed up to 10% of ED presentations. Alcohol was a contributing factor in up to 25% of cases of ambulance transfers.

Conclusions:

Drug and alcohol intoxication has varying levels of impact on PPR, TTHR, and ED presentation numbers depending on the type of sporting MGE. More research is needed to understand if drug and alcohol intoxication alone influences PPR, TTHR, and ED presentations or if it is multifactorial. Inconsistent data collection and reporting methods make it challenging to compare different sporting MGEs and propose generalizations. It is imperative that future studies adopt more consistent methods and report drug and alcohol data to better inform resource allocation and care provision.

Information

Type
Systematic Review
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2020
Figure 0

Table 1. Database Search Terms Using MeSH Terms and Keywords

Figure 1

Table 2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Figure 2

Figure 1. Modified PRISMA Flow Diagram.16

Abbreviations: PDM, Prehospital and Disaster Medicine; PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis.
Figure 3

Table 3. Summary of Articles Included: Prehospital Perspective

Figure 4

Table 4. Summary of articles included: ED perspective

Figure 5

Table 5. Level of Care Provided and Patient Outcomes Related to Drug and Alcohol Use