Whiplash - Are the salient details being recorded on the BSO case histories?
Item
- Title
- Whiplash - Are the salient details being recorded on the BSO case histories?
- Author(s)
- Chapman Tim
- Abstract
- There are many variable factors involved in the mechanism of whiplash. These all have a bearing on the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of a patient. Taking a competent and comprehensive case history is the first step in that process.The objective of this research was to ascertain whether undergraduates were routinely recording the salient details of a whiplash case on the case histories. It also considered which details were routinely omitted especially with regards to patient prognosis. A review of the variable factors involved in the whiplash mechanism was undertaken in the introduction.A broad based 15 point category system was devised to encompass all the salient points that should be recorded in a whiplash incident. The study involved 75 random case histories. These were retrospectively analysed from the BSO deep files in whiplash cases that had occurred less than 5 years previously. Histories were evaluated and compared against the 15 point criteria. A positive score was given against the criteria if fully recorded.On average students positively recorded 5.3 pieces of information pertinent to a whiplash case. Only 4% (n=3) recorded all 15 points of the criteria. Of this 4%, road traffic accidents were the primary cause of the onset and initial presentation of the symptoms. Gender distribution, age range, and the mechanism of whiplash were discussed, and the results were found to agree with the majority of previous research. The study concluded that undergraduates were failing to take a comprehensive case history that involved a whiplash or RTA. Important factors that involved poor prognosis of the patient, especially anticipation of collision and head position of the occupant were routinely not recorded.The results suggest that students do not fully understand the mechanism of whiplash and therefore correspondingly fail to enquire after the salient details of the case. This is an area that provides tremendous scope for future research especially in the field of possible litigation and the relevance of medico-legal reports.
- Abstract
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 1999
- Date Submitted
- 11.8.2000 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 12227
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Case Histories,Whiplash
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Chapman Tim, “Whiplash - Are the salient details being recorded on the BSO case histories?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 14, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2093