TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - On-site physicians at a major sporting event in Nigeria
JO  - Prehospital and disaster medicine
A1  - Olapade-Olaopa, E. Oluwabunmi
A1  - Alonge, Temitope O.
A1  - Amanor-Boadu, Simbo D.
A1  - Sanusi, Arinola A.
A1  - Alese, Olatunji B.
A1  - Omisanjo, Olufunmilade O.
A1  - Adeyinka, Abiodun O.
A1  - Sanya, Arinola O.
A1  - Ogunbunmi, Paul A.
A1  - Adewole, Isaac F.
SP  - 40
EP  - 44
VL  - 21
IS  - 1
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Although the need for on-site physicians at mass gatherings has been investigated in developed countries, it has not been studied in a developing country, where resources are limited, paramedical services are unavailable, and transportation and other facilities are inadequate. HYPOTHESIS: The presence of on-site physicians would result in the effective management and prehospital care of casualties at mass gatherings or major sporting events in a developing country. METHODS: A retrospective review of the planning procedures and medical records of the 19th Nigerian University games was conducted. Data from demographic profiles of visitors presenting to the on-site, secondary, and tertiary medical centers and the treatments used were extracted from log-books and processed and interpreted. RESULTS: The Games hosted 6000 accredited athletes and officials, and an estimated 80,000 spectators. Medical coverage was provided by 54 doctors and other healthcare staff at on-site, secondary, and tertiary medical centers. No trained paramedics were available. A total of 494 visits were made to the medical centers (medical usage rate of 2.1/1000, patient presentation rate of 0.08). Forty-six percent of the visitors were evaluated by a physician on-site. Ninety percent of the visits were managed on-site, while 5% and 3% were referred to secondary and tertiary medical centers, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of on-site physicians at a major sporting event resulted in the majority of injuries and complaints being effectively treated on-scene. This reduced the number of hospital referrals and saved time and money for treatment.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1049-023X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -