Editor—The study by Rytter et al on the effects of armed conflict on access to emergency health care in the Palestinian West Bank does not include any baseline comparison of emergency room admission rates, either from different time periods, other geographical areas, or similar healthcare systems.1 There is no discussion of acuity, case mix, age stratification, and other standard analyses of scientific measurement.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Rytter MJH, Kjældgaard AL, Brønnum-Hansen H, Helweg-Larsen K. Effects of armed conflict on access to emergency health care in Palestinian West Bank: systematic collection of data in emergency departments. BMJ 2006;332: 1122-4. (13 May.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]