Knowledge and Confidence of Emergency Clinicians in Managing Toxicological Presentations

Abstract

Background: Acute poisonings are common presentations to emergency departments (EDs) worldwide and require rapid assessment. Consultant emergency physicians (EPs) faced with various toxicological presentations must initiate rapid investigations and empirical management. This study aimed to determine emergency department doctors’ level of knowledge and confidence in toxicological presentations, and factors that predicted these outcomes. Methods: Target participants included members of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and readers of the emergency medicine website, “Life in the Fast Lane”. The survey was distributed electronically via the ACEM bulletin and posted on Life i..