Lay summary
The research activity intends to inform health delivery in ED practice. The activity focuses on the healthcare needs of ED patients requiring respiratory support (RS). ED patients often need RS, and COVID-19 has increased this need. Additionally, inadequate RS negatively impacts patient outcomes. The activity has two parts: systematic literature review and observational study. The literature review will collate all relevant, reliable evidence to confirm evidence gaps and inform research and practice. The observational study will observe RS delivery to adult ED patients and consider the impact on health outcomes. The outcomes for consideration are the need to escalate care and mortality. EDs in Aotearoa NZ are overburdened and inequity in health delivery is confirmed. These ED issues then undermine health delivery in primary and tertiary practice. This grant will support research activity, informing healthcare delivery, practice and future research with consideration of inequity a likely priority.