'Knowledge exchange' workshops to optimise development of a risk prediction tool to assist conveyance decisions for suspected seizures - Part of the Risk of ADverse Outcomes after a Suspected Seizure (RADOSS) project

Adam J Noble; Beth Morris; Laura J Bonnett; Markus Reuber; Suzanne Mason; Jasmine Wright; Richard Pilbery; Fiona Bell; Tom Shillito; Anthony G Marson; Jon M Dickson

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109611

'Knowledge exchange' workshops to optimise development of a risk prediction tool to assist conveyance decisions for suspected seizures - Part of the Risk of ADverse Outcomes after a Suspected Seizure (RADOSS) project

Epilepsy Behav. 2024 Feb:151:109611. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109611. Epub 2024 Jan 9.

Authors

Adam J Noble¹, Beth Morris², Laura J Bonnett³, Markus Reuber⁴, Suzanne Mason⁵, Jasmine Wright⁶, Richard Pilbery⁷, Fiona Bell⁷, Tom Shillito⁸, Anthony G Marson⁹, Jon M Dickson¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. Electronic address: adam.noble@liverpool.ac.uk.
² Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
³ Department of Health Data Science, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
⁴ Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
⁵ Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
⁶ Public contributor, UK.
⁷ Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Wakefield, UK.
⁸ Epilepsy Action, Leeds, UK.
⁹ Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
¹⁰ Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.

PMID: 38199055
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109611

Abstract

Purpose: Suspected seizures present challenges for ambulance services, with paramedics reporting uncertainty over whether or not to convey individuals to emergency departments. The Risk of ADverse Outcomes after a Suspected Seizure (RADOSS) project aims to address this by developing a risk assessment tool utilizing structured patient care record and dispatch data. It proposes a tool that would provide estimates of an individual's likelihood of death and/or recontact with emergency care within 3 days if conveyed compared to not conveyed, and the likelihood of an 'avoidable attendance' occurring if conveyed. Knowledge Exchange workshops engaged stakeholders to resolve key design uncertainties before model derivation.

Method: Six workshops involved 26 service users and their significant others (epilepsy or nonepileptic attack disorder), and 25 urgent and emergency care clinicians from different English ambulance regions. Utilizing Nominal Group Techniques, participants shared views of the proposed tool, benefits and concerns, suggested predictors, critiqued outcome measures, and expressed functionality preferences. Data were analysed using Hamilton's Rapid Analysis.

Results: Stakeholders supported tool development, proposing 10 structured variables for predictive testing. Emphasis was placed on the tool supporting, not dictating, care decisions. Participants highlighted some reasons why RADOSS might struggle to derive a predictive model based on structured data alone and suggested some non-structured variables for future testing. Feedback on prediction timeframes for service recontact was received, along with advice on amending the 'avoidable attendance' definition to prevent the tool's predictions being undermined by potential overuse of certain investigations in hospital.

Conclusion: Collaborative stakeholder engagement provided crucial insights that can guide RADOSS to develop a user-aligned, optimized tool.

Keywords: Ambulance; Paramedic; Risk prediction; Seizure; Stakeholder participation; Uncertainty.

MeSH terms

Ambulances
Emergency Medical Services* / methods
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Risk Assessment
Seizures / diagnosis
Seizures / therapy