Original Article CONSEQUENCES OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AMONG EMERGENCY ROOM PATIENTS

Objective: To study the consequences of a medical emergency among Emergency Room patients, at a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Design: A questionnaire-based survey Settings: Emergency Room of Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Main outcome measures: Consequences of a medical emergency in terms of impact on employment, financial position, family life, social life, recreational life, self-confidence and psyche. Results: A hundred patients were surveyed. Emergency Room patients feel that they will not have a major impact on their job or employment, as a result of the medical emergency but it will have adverse financial consequences. The respondents in our study perceive the consequence of the medical emergency to have a variable impact on their family life, social life, recreation life and self-confidence. It is important to note with concern that a major impact on Psyche is expected by the emergency room patients, as a result of a medical emergency Conclusion: We have documented the consequences of a medical emergency among Emergency Room patients, with implications for medical practice and policy makers on health. KEY-WORDS: Emergency Medicine-Impact-Adverse effects. Pak J Med Sci April-June 2004 Vol. 20 No. 2 141-14