Research

Focused ultrasound in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by advanced paramedics

Background: This study describes and evaluates advanced paramedic practitioner (APP) use of focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), and relates ultrasound findings with decisions to terminate resuscitation. The authors report characteristics of patients who do/do not undergo a FoCUS examination by APPs, ultrasound probe positions used and whether FoCUS findings were associated with decisions to terminate resuscitation or to convey patients to an emergency...

Does cricoid pressure have a detrimental impact on laryngoscopy and intubation?

Background: Cricoid pressure is used in anaesthetic practice to prevent regurgitation during anaesthetic induction; it is also used by some paramedics. However, it may have a detrimental impact upon laryngoscopy and intubation. Paramedics need to remove barriers to safe and prompt intubation of critically unwell patients. Aim: To determine if cricoid pressure has a detrimental effect on laryngoscopy and intubation. Methods: The PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched with a time...

Practitioner experiences in epidemics and pandemics in relation to COVID-19

Background: COVID-19 has been declared an international emergency by the World Health Organization. Despite personal concerns, frontline health professionals, such as paramedics, nurses and doctors, continue to treat patients. Ensuring these workers' mental wellbeing is supported during these stressful times is key to their maintaining good mental health in the longer term. Aim: To conduct a review of the literature exploring practitioners' attitudes during a pandemic. Methods: A scoping...

The role of the paramedic in identifying modern slavery

Background: Modern slavery is the recruitment or harbouring of people through the use of force and coercion for exploitation. Paramedics have significant potential and unique opportunities regarding the detection, prevention and combating of modern slavery. Aim: To analyse the literature relating to modern slavery and synthesise it for paramedic practice. Method: Following a structured literature review, a comparative analysis was undertaken of articles concerning the relationships between...

Prehospital unfractionated heparin prior to primary PCI

Introduction: Unfractionated heparin is an anticoagulant used by some, but not all, ambulance services in the treatment of patients who will undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) due to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Aims: The purpose of this study is to review the effectiveness and safety of prehospital unfractionated heparin administration to STEMI patients prior to PPCI, and to consider whether this drug should be more widely used for these purposes across...

Physiological and psychological components of paramedic wellbeing

Literature throughout the years has identified that wellbeing includes a variety of concepts that primarily have social, physical, and mental components. Research still needs to identify how the key aspects of these themes link together to create a holistic wellbeing approach, especially in frontline emergency healthcare, like paramedics. Linking together physiological indicators and psychological mediators is currently being investigated through a feasibility study at Anglia Ruskin University....

Local socioeconomic status and paramedic students' academic performance

Research indicates that students of lower socioeconomic status are educationally disadvantaged. This study sought to examine differences in paramedic students' academic performance from counties with varied socioeconomic status in the United States of America. Student performance data and socioeconomic status data were combined for counties within the states of California, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Virginia. Linear multiple regression modelling was performed to determine the relationship...

Survival in Seattle: the Cardiac Arrest Survival Summit

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...