Why you should read this article:

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To understand why vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell disease should be treated as a medical emergency

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To increase your awareness of why patients with sickle cell disease often receive suboptimal care

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To acknowledge the need for staff education on sickle cell disease so that patients receive appropriate care

Most patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) need support from healthcare services to manage their condition, including painful vaso-occlusive crises. Vaso-occlusive crises should be treated as a medical emergency, but the quality of the care patients receive when they present to the emergency department (ED) is often suboptimal. This article reports the findings of a literature review on the views of ED nurses and doctors about patients with SCD. The review included four studies, all of which had been conducted in the US, demonstrating that research on the topic is limited. The review found mostly negative views, including the belief that patients misuse pain medicines and demonstrate drug-seeking behaviours. Racial bias, widely recognised as a negative influence on the care of patients with SCD, was not mentioned in any of the studies. Staff education regarding SCD is required to ensure patients receive the care they need when they present to the ED.