Research assistant: Carita Gelang

There is currently only limited knowledge about the precision with which operators at the emergency service centre perform prioritizations when a person calls in with acute pain or discomfort in the chest. This study, Evidence-based SOS Alarm prioritization of acute pain/discomfort in the chest, tests the hypothesis that a computerized decision support increases the precision of alarm operators in the prioritization of acute pain/discomfort in the chest. During the period 1 May 2009 to 8 March 2010, a total of 15,000 patients called SOS Alarm in Västra Götaland. The study has followed these patients throughout the chain of care, from assessment at the emergency service centre to final diagnosis.
One expected result of the study is to find evidence showing that if it is possible to increase the precision of emergency service operators' prioritization, this will provide not only a likely increase in the possibility of preventing complications, but also an earlier treatment of life-threatening complications of acute pain/discomfort in the chest.