Background

In Sweden with about 10 million inhabitants, there are about one million primary ambulance missions every year. Among them, around 10% are assessed by Emergency Medical Service (EMS) clinicians with the primary symptom of dyspnoea. The risk of death among these patients has been reported to be remarkably high, at 11,1% and 13,2%. The aim was to develop a Machine Learning (ML) model to provide support in assessing patients in pre-hospital settings and to compare them with established triage tools.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study including 6,354 patients who called the Swedish emergency telephone number (112) between January and December 2017. Patients presenting with the main symptom of dyspnoea were included which were recruited from two EMS organisations in Göteborg and Södra Älvsborg. Serious Adverse Event (SAE) was used as outcome, defined as any of the following:1) death within 30 days after call for an ambulance, 2) a final diagnosis defined as time-sensitive, 3) admitted to intensive care unit, or 4) readmission within 72 h and admitted to hospital receiving a final time-sensitive diagnosis. Logistic regression, LASSO logistic regression and gradient boosting were compared to the Rapid Emergency Triage and Treatment System for Adults (RETTS-A) and National Early Warning Score2 (NEWS2) with respect to discrimination and calibration of predictions. Eighty percent (80%) of the data was used for model development and 20% for model validation.

Results

All ML models showed better performance than RETTS-A and NEWS2 with respect to all evaluated performance metrics. The gradient boosting algorithm had the overall best performance, with excellent calibration of the predictions, and consistently showed higher sensitivity to detect SAE than the other methods. The ROC AUC on test data increased from 0.73 (95% CI 0.70–0.76) with RETTS-A to 0.81 (95% CI 0.78–0.84) using gradient boosting.

Conclusions

Among 6,354 ambulance missions caused by patients suffering from dyspnoea, an ML method using gradient boosting demonstrated excellent performance for predicting SAE, with substantial improvement over the more established methods RETTS-A and NEWS2.

Background

Despite breathlessness (dyspnoea) being a common and serious symptom that often necessitates ambulance care, there is still a limited understanding of how ambulance clinicians (ACs) experience and manage these situations in the pre-hospital setting. Given the potential severity and complexity of breathlessness, as well as its impact on patient outcomes, a deeper insight into ACs’ perspectives is essential. This study aimed to explore ACs experiences of caring for patients with breathlessness within ambulance services.

Methods

An inductive qualitative design was employed. Data were collected through dyadic interviews with 16 ACs from two ambulance organizations in southwestern Sweden during two days in May and June 2021. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The ACs experienced several challenges in caring for patients with breathlessness, which is captured in three generic categories: navigating patients’ experiences during breathlessness, navigating relatives and their involvement, and navigating one’s own capability in care. ACs highlighted challenges of identifying and addressing patients’ individual needs, emphasizing the crucial role of trust-building. While ACs relied on their clinical expertise, assessing a patient’s condition remained challenging in certain situations. Furthermore, their ability to manage stress and emotional demands were essential for providing quality care.

Conclusions

This study underscores the challenges of caring for patients with breathlessness, with ACs employing strategies to manage stress and establish a safe environment. Clinical experience and ongoing training and education are strategies to strengthen clinical reasoning and decision-making. Pairing less experienced ACs with seasoned colleagues could also improve care quality and support the development of professional competence.

ObjectiveTo explore what has been published in peer-reviewed journals on patients' experiences of the interpersonal relationship between the patient and the nurse when the patient's health data are remotely monitored in an out-of-clinic setting.IntroductionInterpersonal relationships are considered a cornerstone in person-centred care and nursing. These relationships can be influenced by context and environment. Remote patient monitoring is increasing within healthcare, with the potential to impact on the relationship between the patient and the nurse. So far, there has been limited knowledge on a general basis of how remotely monitored patients experience this relationship.Inclusion CriteriaOriginal peer-reviewed studies in English, published year 2014–2024. Patients 18 years and over in an out-of-clinic setting, having their health data collected through remote patient monitoring by nurses exclusively or as part of a multiprofessional team. Patients' experiences/attitudes/perspectives/perceptions of the patient–nurse relationship.MethodsThe research method was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute's method for scoping reviews and the PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews was used when reporting the review. In total, four databases were used in the literature search. Thematic analysis was used for analysing the results.ResultsOut of 9001 articles, 31 studies were included in the review. Thematic analysis resulted in three clusters covering relational aspects and emotional responses of the patient–nurse relationship during remote monitoring. These clusters were Relational aspects of patient–nurse communication and interaction, Emotional aspects of the patient–nurse relationship and Patient participation.ConclusionsRemote patient monitoring is primarily a human-to-human activity. In general, but not solely, patients perceive positive relational experiences with nurses during remote monitoring. Remote patient monitoring can and should be delivered with a person-centred and ethically aware approach. Thus, the acts and efforts of the monitoring nurse play a central role in providing a positive relationship-based experience during remote patient monitoring.

Background: Dyspnoea (breathing difficulty) is a common reason why patients are in need of pre-hospital care provided by ambulance clinicians. Within the pre-hospital field, knowledge among patients with dyspnoea is still limited even though it is caused by several serious underlying medical conditions. Aim: To describe characteristics and prediction of an adverse outcome among patients with dyspnoea, assessed by ambulance clinicians. Methods: A retrospective observational study including patients aged ≥ 16 years during 2017 in Sweden. In all, 6354 ambulance missions were included.  Data were manually collected through  ambulance- and hospital records.  Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were used. Results:  Mean age was 73 years, 56% were women. There were more than 400 different final diagnostic codes where chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (20.4%), pulmonary infection (17%), and heart failure (15%) were most common. In all, 84% had previously experienced dyspnoea. The overall 30-day mortality was 11%. Among  patients with a time-sensitive final diagnosis (13%),  27% died within 30 days. The most frequent  time-sensitive diagnoses were cardiac diseases (4.1% of all diagnoses), infectious/inflammatory diseases (2.6%), and vascular diseases (2.4%).  Hypertension, renal disease, symptoms of pain, abnormal respiratory rate, impaired consciousness, a pathologic ECG and a short delay until calling the emergency number predicted an increased risk of a time-sensitive final diagnosis. Increasing age, renal disease, cancer, low systolic blood pressures, impaired consciousness and abnormal body temperature predicted an increased risk of death. Conclusions: Patients with dyspnoea often show a complexity of symptoms and signs. They have a coexistence of several chronic diseases and a high risk of death.  Underlying life-threatening conditions are common.Thus, a great burden are placed on ambulance clinicians who are responsible for the pre-hospital care.

Background

Breathlessness is a serious and distressing symptom and a common reason why patients require prehospital care by ambulance clinicians. However, little is known about how patients experience this care when they are in a state of breathlessness.

Aim

The aim of this study is to describe the lived experiences of being cared for by ambulance clinicians when experiencing breathlessness.

Methods

Fourteen lifeworld interviews were conducted with patients who experienced breathlessness and were cared for by ambulance clinicians. The interviews were analysed using a qualitative phenomenological approach.

Findings

The essential meaning of being cared for by ambulance clinicians when experiencing breathlessness is described in two ways: existential humanising care, in which the experience is that of being embraced by a genuine presence or existential dehumanising care, in which feeling exposed to an objectifying presence is the main experience. This meaning has four constituents: surrendering to and trusting in the care that will come; being exposed to an objectifying presence is violating; being embraced by a genuine presence is relieving; and knowing is dwelling.

Conclusion

The findings reveal that the ability of ambulance clinicians to provide existential humanising and trustful care, which is the foundation of professional judgement, was essential in how patients responded to and handled the overall situation when breathlessness.

Aim: The overall aim of the thesis is to deepen the caring science knowledge of breathlessness by intertwining the patient’s and the medical (epidemiological) perspective, with a focus on developing ambulance care for patients suffering from breathlessness.

Methods: Study I describes the lived experiences of breathlessness as reported by patients prior to ambulance care. Data collection consisted of 14 lifeworld interviews with a phenomenological approach. Studies II and III are based on retrospective observations, comprising a review of medical records to describe characteristics and outcomes (II) as well as to identify risk indicators for time-sensitive conditions and early death (III) among 7260 patients who were assessed by ambulance clinicians as suffering from breathlessness as the main symptom. Study IV focused on lived experiences of ambulance care as reported by patients with breathlessness. Data are based on 14 lifeworld interviews and analysed using a phenomenological approach.

Main findings: Breathlessness prior to ambulance care is described as an existential fear of losing control over one’s body and dying, which involves a battle to try to regain control. Approximately every second patient waited for more than two days before contacting the emergency services. There were more than 400 different final diagnosis codes and 11% of all patients had a time-sensitive final diagnosis. The 30-day mortality was11% among all patients and 27% among those with time-sensitive diagnoses. Risk indicators for having a time-sensitive diagnosis were seen among patients with a history of hypertension and renal disease as well as with e.g., a pathological ECG and pain. Older age, a history of renal disease and cancer were associated with early death. Deviating vital parameters were associated both with a time-sensitive diagnosis and early death. Being cared for by ambulance clinicians when experiencing breathlessness revealed that ambulance clinicians have the ability to provide existential, trustworthy care that was essential for patients to regain control over their breathing.

Conclusion: This thesis contributes new knowledge about breathlessness from the ambulance care perspective, in terms of how breathlessness is experienced by the patient intertwined with the epidemiological perspective. The thesis highlights the high complexity of both breathlessness and the care of these patients. The results provide guidance on how care can be developed to meet patients’ needs from a holistic perspective. Such knowledge is important for reducing suffering and providing an opportunity for patients with breathlessness to achieve health and wellbeing.

Abstract Aims and objectives The study aimed to describe how breathlessness is experienced by patients prior to prehospital care. Design A qualitative phenomenological design. Methods Lifeworld interviews were conducted with 14 participants. The analysis was carried out within the descriptive phenomenological framework. Results The essential meaning of the breathlessness phenomenon is described as an existential fear in terms of losing control over one?s body and dying, which involves a battle to try to regain control. This is further described by four constituents: being in an unknown body, striving to handle the situation, the ambiguity of having loved ones close and reaching the utmost border. Conclusions Patients describe a battling for survival. It is at the extreme limit of endurance that patients finally choose to call the emergency number. It is a challenge for the ambulance clinician (AC) to support these patients in the most optimal fashion.

Background

The emergency medical services (EMS) have undergone dramatic changes during the past few decades. Increased utilisation, changes in care-seeking behaviour and competence among EMS clinicians have given rise to a shift in EMS strategies in many countries. From transport to the emergency department to at the scene deciding on the most appropriate level of care and mode of transport. Among the non-conveyed patients some may suffer from “time-sensitive conditions” delaying diagnosis and treatment. Thus, four questions arise:

1) How often are time-sensitive cases referred to primary care or self-care advice?

2) How can we measure and define the level of inappropriate clinical decision-making?

3) What is acceptable?

4) How to increase patient safety?

Main text

To what extent time-sensitive cases are non-conveyed varies. About 5–25% of referred patients visit the emergency department within 72 hours, 5% are hospitalised, 1–3% are reported to have a time-sensitive condition and seven-day mortality rates range from 0.3 to 6%.

The level of inappropriate clinical decision-making can be measured using surrogate measures such as emergency department attendances, hospitalisation and short-term mortality. These measures do not reveal time-sensitive conditions. Defining a scoring system may be one alternative, where misclassifications of time-sensitive cases are rated based on how severely they affected patient outcome.

In terms of what is acceptable there is no general agreement. Although a zero-vision approach does not seem to be realistic unless under-triage is split into different levels of severity with zero-vision in the most severe categories.

There are several ways to reduce the risk of misclassifications. Implementation of support systems for decision-making using machine learning to improve the initial assessment is one approach. Using a trigger tool to identify adverse events is another.

Conclusion

A substantial number of patients are non-conveyed, including a small portion with time-sensitive conditions. This poses a threat to patient safety. No general agreement on how to define and measure the extent of such EMS referrals and no agreement of what is acceptable exists, but we conclude an overall zero-vision is not realistic. Developing specific tools supporting decision making regarding EMS referral may be one way to reduce misclassification rates.

Background: Dyspnoea (breathing difficulty) is among the most commonly cited reasons for contacting emergency medical services (EMSs). Dyspnoea is caused by several serious underlying medical conditions and, based on patients individual needs and complex illnesses or injuries, ambulance staff are independently responsible for advanced care provision. Few large-scale prehospital studies have reviewed patients with dyspnoea. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and final outcomes of patients whose main symptom was classified as dyspnoea by the prehospital emergency nurse (PEN).

Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients aged >16 years whose main symptom was dyspnoea. All the enrolled patients were assessed in the south-western part of Sweden by PENs during January and December, 2017. Of 7,260 assignments (9% of all primary missions), 6,354 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, and the tests used were odds ratios and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results: The patients mean age was 73 years, and approximately 56% were women. More than 400 different final diagnostic codes (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems [ICD]-10^th edition) were observed, and 11% of the ICD-10 codes denoted time-critical conditions. The three most commonly observed aetiologies were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (20.4%), pulmonary infection (17.1%), and heart failure (15%). The comorbidity values were high, with 84.4% having previously experienced dyspnoea. The overall 30-day mortality was 11.1%. More than half called EMSs more than 50 hours after symptom onset.

Conclusions:  Among patients assessed by PENs due to dyspnoea as the main symptom there were more than 400 different final diagnoses, of which 11% were regarded as time-critical. These patients had a severe comorbidity and 11% died within the first 30 days.

Background: Dyspnoea is one of the most common reasons for patients contacting emergency medical services (EMS). Pre-hospital Emergency Nurses (PENs) are independently responsible for advanced care and to meet thesepatients individual needs. Patients with dyspnoea constitute a complex group, with multiple different final diagnoses and with a high risk of death. This study aimed to describe on-scene factors associated with an increased risk of a time-sensitive final diagnosis and the risk of death.

Methods: A retrospective observational study including patients aged ≥16 years, presenting mainly with dyspnoea was conducted. Patients were identified thorough an EMS database, and were assessed by PENs in the southwestern part of Sweden during January to December 2017. Of 7260 missions (9% of all primary missions), 6354 were included. Among those, 4587 patients were randomly selected in conjunction with adjusting for uniquepatients with single occasions. Data were manually collected through both EMS- and hospital records and final diagnoses were determined through the final diagnoses verified in hospital records. Analysis was performed usingmultiple logistic regression and multiple imputations.

Results: Among all unique patients with dyspnoea as the main symptom, 13% had a time-sensitive final diagnosis. The three most frequent final time-sensitive diagnoses were cardiac diseases (4.1% of all diagnoses), infectious/inflammatory diseases (2.6%), and vascular diseases (2.4%). A history of hypertension, renal disease, symptoms of pain, abnormal respiratory rate, impaired consciousness, a pathologic ECG and a short delay until call for EMS were associated with an increased risk of a time-sensitive final diagnosis. Among patients with time-sensitive diagnoses, approximately 27% died within 30 days. Increasing age, a history of renal disease, cancer, low systolic bloodpressures, impaired consciousness and abnormal body temperature were associated with an increased risk of death.

Conclusions: Among patients with dyspnoea as the main symptom, age, previous medical history, deviating vital signs, ECG pattern, symptoms of pain, and a short delay until call for EMS are important factors to consider in the prehospital assessment of the combined risk of either having a time-sensitive diagnosis or death.