[Evaluation of an activity score of prehospital medicine: activity scoring using Smur (CAS)].
OBJECTIVE
The activity of prehospital emergency medicine (PEM) teams is mainly assessed by the amount of medical interventions and their duration. However, these two parameters do not reflect workload correctly. The aim of this study was to compare a new activity scoring system for PEM teams (CAS) with the standard TISS score.


METHODS
Prospective comparative study.


METHODS
This study included 4,650 patients, with a median age of 39 years [0-100], attended by PEM teams during 4,189 ambulance transports (83% primary transports and 17% interhospital transfers).


METHODS
The CAS score derived from Omega scoring system is the sum of 51 items specifically suited for PEM, each one being rated 1, 3, 6 or 10. CAS and TISS, were prospectively determined for all medical ambulance transports over 1.5 year. Transport data and main diagnosis were collected. Results were analysed with non parametric statistical tests.


RESULTS
Median duration of interventions (39 min [0-475]) and median CAS score (7 [0-72]) were comparable (R' = 0.38, P < 0.001). Median TISS was 3 [0-30]. CAS score was correlated with TISS (R' = 0.92, P < 0.001). CAS score was higher in men than in women (7 [0-72] vs 7 [0-45], P < 0.001). CAS scores in patients with cardiologic (11 [0-72]), respiratory (9 [0-31]) or neurological insults (9 [0-43]) were significantly higher than those of patients with other insults (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The CAS scoring system is a valuable indicator of medical team prehospital workload, probably more suited for prehospital emergency medicine than TISS.
Dupont
H
H
Réanimation polyvalente Grands-Brûlés, centre hospitalier universitaire de la Guadeloupe, Pointe-à-Pître, France.
Dupont-Perdrizet
D
D
Périé
J L
JL
Lupéron
J L
JL
D000552:Ambulances / Q000592:standards*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011786:Quality Control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Evaluation d'un score d'activité en médecine préhospitalière: codage d'activité Smur (CAS).