Documentation of decision-making during air transport.
BACKGROUND
Decision-making is an integral part of quality patient care. The aim of this study was to evaluate decision-making documentation.


METHODS
A retrospective descriptive design was used to examine the documentation for a convenience sample of 48 trauma patients transported by rotor-wing aircraft.


RESULTS
A total of 1012 decisions were documented in the 48 records. The decisions were grouped into major conceptual problems. An average of 10.2 +/- 4.56 conceptual problems were identified in each record. The top 10 conceptual problems were evaluated. Adequate documentation was found to support all decision-making related to the top 10 problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Although air medical personnel may not directly document statements of rationale for their decision-making, sufficient data were present in the records to support each documented decision.
Strong
C
C
University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Thompson
C B
CB
D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000592:standards*; D003657:Decision Making; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000592:standards*; D014589:Utah; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy