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Background. The lack of effective system solutions in the field of primary care, long waiting times for outpatient consultation in the framework of specialist care are the cause of those patient's applications to ED who do not require the use of emergency procedures. The ability to quickly get to ED and unrestricted patient access to health care services financed from public funds increase the likelihood of reporting to ED by the patients in non-urgent cases. Objectives. Analysis of the patient's attendance with minor injuries to ED. Material and methods. 155 patients of ED in Kędzierzyn-Koźle were examined by a diagnostic survey based on a copyright questionnaire. Results. Patients with minor injuries are generally people aged 11-40 years (66.7%; 100) self-referred to ED (92.7%; 139), with injuries of the extremities (72.7%; 109) that arise from falling, tripping, slipping, impaction (78.7%;11 8) during three hours of the onset of injury (57.3%; 87) with moderate symptoms. Respondents believe that the minor injuries require diagnostic radiology (38.7%; 58) and specialist consultations (34%; 51) and ED is the most appropriate place for their treatment (45.3%; 68). If these patients do not attend PHC (85.3%; 128) it does not mean that the patient does not trust in the possibility of treatment by a family physician (OR = 1.46, 95% CI [0.52; 4.55]; p = 0.49). Conclusions. It is important to educate patients about the role of ED in the health system, the possibility of dressing minor injuries in PHC, self-care in the field of minor injuries dressing and the harmful effects of excess X-rays on the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Falls and traumas in elderly persons don't only result in health problems, but they also involve social and economic, psychological and political consequences. The most frequent trauma mechanisms in the elderly include: falls and traffic accidents. Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess selected factors influencing the energy, type and area of a trauma incurred by elderly people. Material and methods. A group of 108 patients aged 65-93 treated at the SPSK 1 in Szczecin were tested by a diagnostic survey with the use of a questionnaire. The eligibility criteria included a trauma as a result of an accident, the age of the subject above 65 years of age and expressing written, voluntary and informed consent to participation in the study. Results. 177 traumas were recorded in the analysed group of 108 patients. The most frequent traumas included fractures and contusions and the lower limbs and the left arm were the most frequently injured body parts. Men were more often injured during low-energy events. Patients more often had their upper body and left leg injured during low-energy events than during high-energy ones. In persons over 65 years of age, usually one fracture occurred during a low-energy accident. Conclusions. The most common result of injuries among people aged 65+ admitted to the emergency department are fractures. With age the number of LE T increases and the number of HET decreases. It's necessary therefore to create an appropriate health policy covering education for elderly people and their families to prevent injuries of low energy content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Childhood injuries and accidents constitute an important health, social and economic problem. Serious injuries require surgical intervention and hospitalization. In other cases, patients leave hospital within several hours after diagnosis and non-operative treatment, and then they receive outpatient care. Despite a downward trend, injuries remain the main cause of death among children and adolescents. Therefore, understanding their epidemiology, which would allow us to create prevention programmes based on scientific evidence (evidence based medicine), is so important. Conclusions. 1. The age and gender of patients were factors determining injuries. 2. Seasons of the year have an influence on the structure of injuries among children. 3. It is necessary to increase social awareness on the prevention and negative effects of burns. Objectives. The study's objective was an attempt at analyzing childhood injuries treated in outpatient clinics. Material and methods. The study comprised 2182 children aged 0-18, including 692 females and 1490 males. Among them 1024 children treated surgically and 1158 outpatients. In the retrospective study the authors used a method of analysis of medical records of patients treated in 2012 at the Department of Child Surgery and Traumatology and Orthopaedics with the Operating Theatre in the Nicolaus Copernicus Province Hospital in Koszalin. The analysis was conducted on the basis of operative reports in the case of afflictions and injuries requiring surgery, and outpatient admissions reports in the case of outpatients. Results. Among the outpatients, the biggest group of injuries (34.83% or 403) included bruises, cuts, lacerations etc. Regarding frequency, injuries of hand area - 14.35% (166) and arm fractures - 13.4% (159) followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]