On-site physicians at a major sporting event in Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Although the need for on-site physicians at mass gatherings has been investigated in developed countries, it has not been studied in a developing country, where resources are limited, paramedical services are unavailable, and transportation and other facilities are inadequate.


OBJECTIVE
The presence of on-site physicians would result in the effective management and prehospital care of casualties at mass gatherings or major sporting events in a developing country.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the planning procedures and medical records of the 19th Nigerian University games was conducted. Data from demographic profiles of visitors presenting to the on-site, secondary, and tertiary medical centers and the treatments used were extracted from log-books and processed and interpreted.


RESULTS
The Games hosted 6000 accredited athletes and officials, and an estimated 80,000 spectators. Medical coverage was provided by 54 doctors and other healthcare staff at on-site, secondary, and tertiary medical centers. No trained paramedics were available. A total of 494 visits were made to the medical centers (medical usage rate of 2.1/1000, patient presentation rate of 0.08). Forty-six percent of the visitors were evaluated by a physician on-site. Ninety percent of the visits were managed on-site, while 5% and 3% were referred to secondary and tertiary medical centers, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of on-site physicians at a major sporting event resulted in the majority of injuries and complaints being effectively treated on-scene. This reduced the number of hospital referrals and saved time and money for treatment.
Olapade-Olaopa
E Oluwabunmi
EO
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, POB 7193. okeoffa@yahoo.com
Alonge
Temitope O
TO
Amanor-Boadu
Simbo D
SD
Sanusi
Arinola A
AA
Alese
Olatunji B
OB
Omisanjo
Olufunmilade O
OO
Adeyinka
Abiodun O
AO
Sanya
Arinola O
AO
Ogunbunmi
Paul A
PA
Adewole
Isaac F
IF
D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports