A multicentre, explanatory sequential mixed methods study. Phase 1 consists of an online survey and phase 2 involves semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from UK NHS ambulance services in order to explore the perceptions and views of ambulance service staff on research culture and capacity building.
Scoping review of literature to determine if there is any evidence supporting the PICO question directly and indirectly. Research evidence supporting the intervention of POCUS at a timeline within a patient care episode that would predict or rule in/rule out the need for CT head before clinical signs and symptoms of raised ICP due to mild to moderate TBI manifest.
This study will explore how real-time feedback affects ambulance clinicians’ ability to perform ventilations during a simulated cardiac arrest scenario over six months. Ventilations, typically given via a bag-valve-mask (BVM), are a basic life support skill performed by paramedics in emergency situations, but evidence suggests that many clinicians struggle to deliver ventilations according to guidelines. Feedback during training can help improve these skills, but without regular updates or refresher training, the skills may deteriorate over time. The study will involve participants from a single ambulance service, randomly assigned to three groups. All of these groups will participate in a simulation using a resuscitation manikin. The first group will receive feedback on their ventilations at every session, the second will receive feedback only at the first session, and the third will receive no feedback and act as a control. Ventilation rates and volumes will be measured using a Zoll X-series monitor, which provides real-time feedback. The main aim of the study is to compare the quality of ventilations at the six-month mark between the three groups. A secondary focus will be tracking any changes in ventilation quality across the six months, to identify potential skill improvements or fade.
This project is in partial fulfilment of a PhD that is exploring the relationship and impact of ethnic diversity and diversity training on cultural competence in frontline ambulance service staff. The first study in this PhD was a review of WRES data from all ten ambulance services in England, in order to gain an understanding of workforce equality. The second study was a scoping review of factors impacting cultural competence in healthcare personnel. This was conducted as the third study (this project) aims to survey frontline ambulance service staff diversity demographics, life experiences, training and cultural competence. However, to understand the relationship between these factors and cultural competence, the other factors impacting cultural competence need to be known and accounted for. The fourth and final study in this PhD (also part of this project), aims to explore frontline service staffs’ acquisition of cultural competence, and their experiences and perspectives of cultural competence, its associated diversity training and importance on professional practice.
Paramedic clinical practice has seen significant evolution from the traditional role of transporting patients to an emergency department (ED). An evolving and flexible scope of practice, modernisation and healthcare reform has necessitated the development of a range of referral pathways for paramedics, with the aim of ensuring that service users receive the most appropriate care at point of contact. Ambulance conveyance rates to EDs in Northern Ireland (NI) have only occasionally fallen below 75%. A study examining a Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) referral pathway showed a much lower referral rate than those of comparable ambulance services. A similar study found that over 70% of people who experience a fall are not referred to falls prevention services. This study aimed to identify what paramedics perceive the barriers and facilitators to the use of appropriate care pathways (ACPs) in NI are.
The study investigates paramedics’ coping actions for sustainable long-term work performance and burnout prevention. The research focuses on what individuals are doing to cope with their day-to-day stressors and the actions they take that may contribute to recovery and be protective against burnout. The research will involve short interviews to collect the data which should take 30 minutes. The interview will be conducted online (e.g. via Microsoft Teams). During the interview, the participant will be asked a series of questions about their experience of their job as a paramedic. Specifically, we will ask about day-to-day responsibilities, how individuals cope with these and if there are any challenges to applying coping strategies. With permission, the interview will be recorded, but participants can choose to keep their cameras off if they wish. Inclusion criteria: current or former practising paramedics, aged 18 and over, who can give informed consent. Exclusion criteria: Paramedic Students or individuals currently diagnosed with and receiving treatment for mental health disorders, such as burnout, mood and anxiety disorders.