Emergency department equipment for obese patients: perceptions of adequacy.
OBJECTIVE
This study reports an investigation to assess patients' and nurses' perceptions of equipment adequacy for obese patients presenting at an emergency department and to assess nurses' knowledge of equipment weight limits in the emergency department.


BACKGROUND
The increasing weight of populations in many societies is a challenge to healthcare providers and facilities. Emergency department equipment, specifically, may be inadequate for patient care.


METHODS
Two questionnaires were developed. One was administered to 134 emergency department patients with suspected cardiac ischaemia; the other was administered to their respective nurses. Patient and nurse equipment adequacy scores were computed. Patients' self-reported height and weight were used to calculate body mass index. Waist circumference was measured. The data were collected in Canada in 2005.


RESULTS
Patient equipment adequacy scores correlated inversely with both body mass index (r = -0.55, 95% CI = -0.70 to -0.41, P < 0.01) and waist circumference (r = -0.62, 95% CI = -0.75 to -0.48, P < 0.01). Nurse equipment adequacy scores were also inversely related to patient body mass index (r = -0.34, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.18, P < 0.01) and waist circumference (r = -0.40, 95% CI = -0.56 to -0.24, P < 0.01). There was a weak correlation between nurse and patient equipment adequacy scores (r = 0.27, 95% CI = -0.44 to -0.10, P < 0.01). Small minorities of nurses reported accurate knowledge of weight limits for beds, commodes and toilets.


CONCLUSIONS
Specialized equipment and staff education are needed for adequate management of obese patients in the emergency department.
Singh
Navneet
N
Honours Program/Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. navneet.singh@utoronto.ca
Arthur
Heather M
HM
Worster
Andrew
A
Iacobellis
Gianluca
G
Sharma
Arya M
AM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019719:Diagnostic Equipment / Q000592:standards*; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*