Patients' experiences of cold exposure during ambulance care
Aléx J, Karlsson S, Saveman BI
Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine · 14 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Umeå Universitet
Based on 1 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2013-06-06 · Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med · vol. 21 · issue 1 · p. 44
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Cited
- 27 citations · more than 72% of similar papers · 0.7× the field average
- References
- 50 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Thermal Regulation in Medicine · Intensive Care Unit Cognitive Disorders · Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Keywords
- Medicine, Cold winter, Hypothermia, Emergency medicine, Cold stress, Medical emergency, Anesthesia
- MeSH
- humans, body temperature, cognition disorders, environmental exposure, clothing, ambulances, adult, aged, aged, 80 and over, middle aged, patient satisfaction, female, male, cold temperature, young adult
3 authors
From SE
- Jonas Aléx · correspondingUmeå University
- Stig KarlssonUmeå University
- Britt‐Inger SavemanUmeå University
Abstract
Background
Exposure to cold temperatures is often a neglected problem in prehospital care. Cold exposure increase thermal discomfort and, if untreated causes disturbances of vital body functions until ultimately reaching hypothermia. It may also impair cognitive function, increase pain and contribute to fear and an overall sense of dissatisfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate injured and ill patients' experiences of cold exposure and to identify related factors.
Method
During January to March 2011, 62 consecutively selected patients were observed when they were cared for by ambulance nursing staff in prehospital care in the north of Sweden. The field study was based on observations, questions about thermal discomfort and temperature measurements (mattress air and patients' finger temperature). Based on the observation protocol the participants were divided into two groups, one group that stated it was cold in the patient compartment in the ambulance and another group that did not. Continuous variables were analyzed with independent sample t-test, paired sample t-test and dichotomous variables with cross tabulation.
Results
In the ambulance 85% of the patients had a finger temperature below comfort zone and 44% experienced the ambient temperature in the patient compartment in the ambulance to be cold. There was a significant decrease in finger temperature from the first measurement indoor compared to measurement in the ambulance. The mattress temperature at the ambulance ranged from -22.3°C to 8.4°C.
Conclusion
Cold exposure in winter time is common in prehospital care. Sick and injured patients immediately react to cold exposure with decreasing finger temperature and experience of discomfort from cold. Keeping the patient in the comfort zone is of great importance. Further studies are needed to increase knowledge which can be a base for implications in prehospital care for patients who probably already suffer for other reasons.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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