Methods: The National Societies for Emergency Medicine of Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey participated in the joint Japanese Association of Acute Medicine (JAAM) and Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Special Symposium held in October 2013 at Tokyo, Japan. The findings are reviewed in this paper.
Results: Emergency medicine (EM) has over the years evolved into a distinct and recognized medical discipline requiring a unique set of cognitive, administrative and technical skills for managing all types of patients with acute illness or injury. EM has contributed to healthcare by providing effective, safe, efficient and cost-effective patient care. Integrated systems have developed to allow continuity of emergency care from the community into emergency departments. Structured training curriculum for undergraduates, and specialty training programs for postgraduates are in place to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills required for the unique practice of EM.
Conclusion: The practice of EM still varies among the Asian countries. However, as a region, we strive to continue in our efforts to develop the specialty and improve the delivery of EM.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, semi-structured online survey.
METHODS: An anonymized, self-administered, semi-structured online survey was conducted via Google Forms between July and October 2024. Survey invitations were distributed via email, professional networks, and social media where appropriate. The survey assessed respondents' demographics, respondents' prior use of QPLs (Yes/No), prior awareness of the existence of QPLs (Yes/No), preferred communication style (single-response, multiple-choice), and perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation (open-ended response). All questions excluding the two open-ended questions were required for submission. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, and thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's framework was used for open-ended responses.
RESULTS: Among 85 respondents, 84.7% reported being unaware of QPLs, and 22.4% reported having implemented QPLs in their clinical practice. Among respondents who had not implemented QPLs, 68.2% indicated that they were "Somewhat" or "Very" willing to implement them. Most respondents favored communication styles that emphasize sharing information (16.4%), open and inclusive communication (15.6%), and supportive counseling (15.6%). QPLs are aligned with current attitudes toward patient-provider communication in ANCCA countries.
CONCLUSION: There is substantial opportunity to introduce QPLs across ANCCA countries. This study provides foundational evidence to guide their effective implementation, promoting patient-centered care in Asia.