Research
Background
In the Policy statement on Emergency Medicine in Europe, Eusem considered research to contribute to the development of an international evidence base for Emergency Medicine as one of its aims.
In the development of each medical specialty, the development of specialty specific research is of enormous importance. As Emergency Medicine has many links with other specialties, much research is done in collaboration and is published in other than EM journals.
The main time related research fields within EM can be divided in: prehospital medicine (1), initial assessment & therapy in the ED, observational medicine and disaster medicine.
The research subjects are:
• Answering important practical questions, clinical and organizational (staffing, waiting times,…)
• Answering EM related basic scientific questions
• Studying the effects of training & simulation in EM
• Health care related (2)
o Surveillance of diseases, injuries & health risks
o Delivering clinical preventive services
o Developing policies to protect & improve public ‘s health
The methods used can be laboratory research or clinical trials, clinical epidemiology, health economics & others.
Mission Statement & Goals
To promote, facilitate and coordinate research in EM within Europe and across its borders in larger International collaboration to study the above cited subjects and to provide EM with stronger scientific fundaments.
Objectives
In order to reach the mission, the main objectives will be reached stepwise:
1. Continuous inventarisation of existing European EM research institutional or collaborating groups and projects through publications, the different sections of Eusem and the European Federation. This inventarisation must be accessible through the Eusem website (protected?).
2. Conception & coordination of Eusem research projects.
3. Facilitating European funding and setting up a Eusem research fund.
4. Providing a research session at the annual Eusem meetings.
Eusem Research Section
1. The Eusem research section will be fully responsible for all activities of the section
2. Members of the section must be Eusem members who are involved in research. Each Federation member should delegate at least one section member.
3. Financial transactions are under the full supervision of the Eusem council
4. The research section should become active following its official creation on approval of the Eusem council
References
1. Smith E, Jennings P, McDonald S, MacPherson C, O’Brien T and Archer F. The Cochrane library as a resource for evidence on out-of-hospital health care interventions. Ann Emerg Med 2007; 49: 344-350.
2. Pollock DA, Lowery DW & O’Brien PM. Emergency Medicine and Public Health: new steps in old directions. Ann Emerg Med 2001; 38: 675-683.