Evaluation of Forensic Cases Admitted to the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

This study was conducted retrospectively to determine the profile of forensic cases admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital. 127242 patients admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital within one year were retrospectively reviewed in terms of age, gender, type of event, the season of occurrence, age, and gender distribution of the type of event. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 package program. Out of all the forensic cases analyzed, 35.8% (n: 525) were in the 0-14 age group, and 64.7% (n: 949) were males. Admissions were most frequently made in the summer months. The most common forensic diagnoses were exposure to assault/violence, accounting for 29.2% of cases, followed by drug poisoning at 19.1%, and burns at 17.1%. Most cases (66.5%) were discharged after receiving outpatient treatment. It is evident that a substantial number of forensic cases admitted to the emergency department were preventable. To reduce the occurrence of preventable cases, it is essential to implement protective measures both outdoors and at home, creating a safe environment. It is crucial to support and promote education and awareness-raising activities that actively involve families with the support of social institutions. Support and dissemination of education and awareness-raising activities in which families will actively participate by social institutions, raising awareness of society through public service announcements, establishing an understanding that “does not tolerate violence” in preventing and reducing violence at home and in society, and enactment of effective and deterrent laws will be significant steps towards solving the problem of reducing assault/violence. Nurses, as healthcare professionals who have close interactions with individuals in various societal domains, play a crucial role in mitigating violence by assisting individuals in recognizing and managing anger, expressing it appropriately, and developing effective stress-coping strategies.