Research
Improving motivation for self-directed training in Danish EMS personnel
Background: Emergency Medical Services personnel's motivation to carry out self-directed training might be impaired by several factors such as work environment, pressures and training facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether easy access to local training facilities would improve individual motivation for self-directed training. Methods: A before-and-after study of 118 Danish personnel was conducted. Participants were asked to complete two identical questionnaires, exploring...
Improving the quality and transparency of prehospital case reports using CARE
Clinical case reports play an important role in supporting evidence-based paramedicine. When research on a topic is limited and there is no robust evidence, a case report may be the best available, especially for rare or unusual presentations or in novel clinical practice. Case reports in paramedicine journals are common. However, adherence to the published consensus-based reporting guideline is rare, which may weaken the evidence arising from this body of case report literature. There is a need...
A description of a unique paramedic role in a Canadian emergency department
Background: Paramedics are known for their role in prehospital emergency medical services. In response to healthcare system overcrowding, and increased demands on emergency departments, roles for paramedics have emerged in hospitals. Aims: The authors describe a well established paramedic role in the emergency department of a busy regional referral centre, highlighting the successes and challenges of the programme. Methods: In this phenomenological study, six paramedics employed at the...
Global patient experience of paramedic practice
Background: Paramedics occupy an ever-increasing role within healthcare and the development of this role should be informed by the voice of patients. This systematic literature review seeks to explore patient experience during a paramedic intervention. Methods: Using a ‘state of the art’ review style, a systematic search was conducted of the literature published between 2006 and 2018. Following PRISMA guidelines, a total of seven articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. A...
Burnout in Australian paramedics
Background: Burnout has consistently been identified as an issue in health professionals, with paramedics in particular frequently noted to have high burnout rates. Aims: The current study aimed to describe the prevalence of total work burnout in Australian paramedics and of three subcategories: personal, work-related and patient-related burnout. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey presented the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) to a national convenience sample (n=893) over a...
Incidence, response, and outcomes of cardiac arrest in Portland, Oregon
Cardiac arrest is a serious medical event with a poor prognosis of survival, at less than 10% (Zive et al, 2011). Several studies have investigated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) response, treatment, and outcomes. Cardiac arrest databases such as the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) and the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) have been created to provide evidence-based findings to develop emergency medical service (EMS) policies for treatment. The current study was...
Obstacles to emergency medical services system design and operational features
Objective: There is a paucity of global research regarding emergency medical services (EMS) systems. EMS system processes and outcomes vary by model and jurisdiction. This study explores the individual, organisational, and system obstacles to 15 features of EMS systems. Methods: Using a multi-case study, five US EMS systems, representing five major design models, were studied. Data collection included: i) data metrics, ii) document review, iii) interviews, and iv) archival...
The profile of an emergency medical services leader: a multi-national qualitative study
This article discusses the profile of an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) leader that emerged from a larger study on how EMS leadership is learned from a multinational qualitative study of EMS providers working in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. EMS is a team-oriented profession designed to respond to emergencies and disasters. Within EMS are leaders responsible for ensuring response capabilities, which has been plagued with criticisms and shortcomings. Different leadership styles have been...
ED staff knowledge and attitudes towards the paramedic profession in Israel
Objective: To examine the level of knowledge and attitudes of emergency department (ED) personnel towards the paramedic profession in Israel, and to examine opinions of the ED staff regarding integration of paramedics into the ED work staff. Study design: Cross-sectional survey conducted among health care workers. Sample and setting: The research population was physicians and nurses in four level 1 hospitals in Israel. The sample population includes 92 physicians (approximately 61%) and 102...
Striving for the professionalisation of Australian paramedics
For paramedical practitioners to realise their full potential, national registration is an essential component in gaining recognition by the broader healthcare industry. This paper's purpose is to evaluate if the paramedic industry is considered a profession by informed members of the public in isolation from paramedic culture. An altruistic opportunity exists to engage with the consumer and affording them the opportunity to be commensurate of the issues of registration, with the pretence to...
An evaluation of high fidelity simulation training for paramedics in Ireland
Introduction: The requirement for pre-hospital practitioners to perform additional interventions is ever increasing. In Ireland the training of pre-hospital practitioners is currently developing and evolving to meet this demand. This requires the use of simulators with the capability to simulate more advanced interventions. Objectives: We wished to explore the views of pre-hospital care practitioners post participation in a pilot high fidelity simulation in emergency care, to gauge its...
Is the Australian paramedic discipline a profession? A national perspective
Background Over the past century the Australian paramedic discipline has gone through a dramatic evolution; moving from its origins of an ambulance driver to its current practitioner role as an integral member of the Australian health care system. However, at present the Australian paramedic discipline is not considered a full profession by the national or state governments. This begs the further question, how does the paramedic discipline within Australia view itself? Objectives This paper...