To investigate whether clinically important ethnic inequities between Māori and non-Māori exist within EDs across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The EEDI study hypothesises that:

1. There are inequities in ED practice and outcomes between Māori and non-Māori within NZ.
2. Any inequities between Māori and non-Māori are unlikely to be fully explained by pre-admission / patient demographic variables.
3. Any inequities in ED markers of care between Māori and non-Māori are likely to contribute to differences in clinically important outcomes including mortality.
   
   

Research objectives investigated ED inequities within:

1. Patient-centred markers of care (e.g. whether patients waited to be seen by a physician, the time from presentation to ED and assessment by an ED physician, readmission or re-presentation post-ED visit).
2. System-centred markers of care (e.g. length of stay in the ED, admission to hospital and indicators of access block as a marker of overcrowding).
3. Mortality (e.g. within ED or within 10 days of ED assessment, 30 days post discharge).