Document Detail


Symptom-based categorization of in-flight passenger medical incidents.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22195394     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
INTRODUCTION: The majority of in-flight passenger medical events are managed by cabin crew. Our study aimed to evaluate the reliability of cabin crew reports of in-flight medical events and to develop a symptom-based categorization system.
METHODS: All cabin crew in-flight passenger medical incident reports for an airline over a 9-yr period were examined retrospectively. Validation of incident descriptions were undertaken on a sample of 162 cabin crew reports where medically trained persons' reports were available for comparison using a three Round Delphi technique and testing concordance using Cohen's Kappa. A hierarchical symptom-based categorization system was designed and validated.
RESULTS: The rate was 159 incidents per 106 passengers carried, or 70.4/113.3 incidents per 106 revenue passenger kilometres/miles, respectively. Concordance between cabin crew and medical reports was 96%, with a high validity rating (mean 4.6 on a 1-5 scale) and high Cohen's Kappa (0.94). The most common in-flight medical events were transient loss of consciousness (41%), nausea/vomiting/diarrhea (19.5%), and breathing difficulty (16%).
DISCUSSION: Cabin crew records provide reliable data regarding in-flight passenger medical incidents, complementary to diagnosis-based systems, and allow the use of currently underutilized data. The categorization system provides a means for tracking passenger medical incidents internationally and an evidence base for cabin crew first aid training.
Authors:
Paul H Mahony; Julia A Myers; Peter D Larsen; David M C Powell; Robin F Griffiths
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Aviation, space, and environmental medicine     Volume:  82     ISSN:  0095-6562     ISO Abbreviation:  Aviat Space Environ Med     Publication Date:  2011 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-12-26     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7501714     Medline TA:  Aviat Space Environ Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1131-7     Citation Subset:  IM; S    
Affiliation:
Occupational and Aviation Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington South, New Zealand.
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