International Survey of Emergency Physicians’ Priorities for Clinical Decision Rules

This study examined the clinical priorities of emergency physicians working in Australasia, Canada, the United Kingdom, & the United States for the development of future clinical decision rules. An e-mail & postal survey was administered. Admission for suicide risk was seventh among the top 10 clinical priorities but this ranking varied by nationality. Determining when to admit a patient at suicide risk was ranked as a top five priority by 30% of respondents overall & ranked 2nd among admission challenges, & 6th among the problems overall. Respondents from the United Kingdom ranked suicide risk as 3rd but their American counterparts ranked it 13th. (29 rfs.)