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Health Service Impact from Mass Gatherings: A Systematic Literature Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2016

Jamie Ranse ,
Alison Hutton ,
Toby Keene ,
Shane Lenson ,
Matt Luther ,
Nerolie Bost ,
Amy N. B. Johnston ,
Julia Crilly ,
Matt Cannon  and
Nicole Jones
...Show all authors
Jamie Ranse*
Affiliation:
University of Canberra, Faculty of Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Flinders University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia St John Ambulance Australia (New South Wales), Event Health Services, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alison Hutton
Affiliation:
Flinders University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Toby Keene
Affiliation:
Australian Catholic University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Australian Capital Territory Ambulance Service, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Shane Lenson
Affiliation:
Australian Catholic University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Matt Luther
Affiliation:
Calvary Health Care ACT, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Nerolie Bost
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Queensland, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Amy N. B. Johnston
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Queensland, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Julia Crilly
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health, Southport, Queensland, Australia Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Matt Cannon
Affiliation:
St John Ambulance Australia (New South Wales), Event Health Services, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nicole Jones
Affiliation:
University of Canberra, Faculty of Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Canberra Hospital, Intensive Care Unit, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Courtney Hayes
Affiliation:
University of Canberra, Faculty of Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Brandon Burke
Affiliation:
Canberra Hospital, Intensive Care Unit, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Medical School, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
*
Correspondence: Jamie Ranse, RN, FACN, FCENA, BNurs University of Canberra University Drive Bruce, Australian Capital Territory 2617 Australia E-mail: jamie@jamieranse.com
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Abstract

Background

During a mass gathering, some participants may receive health care for injuries or illnesses that occur during the event. In-event first responders provide initial assessment and management at the event. However, when further definitive care is required, municipal ambulance services provide additional assessment, treatment, and transport of participants to acute care settings, such as hospitals. The impact on both ambulance services and hospitals from mass-gathering events is the focus of this literature review.

Aim

This literature review aimed to develop an understanding of the impact of mass gatherings on local health services, specifically pertaining to in-event and external health services.

Method

This research used a systematic literature review methodology. Electronic databases were searched to find articles related to the aim of the review. Articles focused on mass-gathering health, provision of in-event health services, ambulance service transportation, and hospital utilization.

Results

Twenty-four studies were identified for inclusion in this review. These studies were all case-study-based and retrospective in design. The majority of studies (n=23) provided details of in-event first responder services. There was variation noted in reporting of the number and type of in-event health professional services at mass gatherings. All articles reported that patients were transported to hospital by the ambulance service. Only nine articles reported on patients presenting to hospital. However, details pertaining to the impact on ambulance and hospital services were not reported.

Conclusions

There is minimal research focusing on the impact of mass gatherings on in-event and external health services, such as ambulance services and hospitals. A recommendation for future mass-gathering research and evaluation is to link patient-level data from in-event mass gatherings to external health services. This type of study design would provide information regarding the impact on health services from a mass gathering to more accurately inform future health planning for mass gatherings across the health care continuum.

RanseJ , HuttonA , KeeneT , LensonS , LutherM , BostN , JohnstonANB , CrillyJ , CannonM , JonesN , HayesC , BurkeB . Health Service Impact from Mass Gatherings: A Systematic Literature Review. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):71–77.

Keywords

Emergency Medical Servicesemergency roomshospitalsmass gatheringparamedicplanned event

Information

Type
Comprehensive Reviews
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 71 - 77
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2016 

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