Bakgrund: Hjärtstopp skördar årligen många liv. Goda kunskaper krävs för att identifiera hjärtstopp för att tidigt kunna inleda behandling. Sjuksköterskan behöver kärnkompetenser för att kunna identifiera problem och etiska dilemman genom ett personcentrarat förhållningssätt. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva sjuksköterskans uppfattning av vad som påverkar beslutsfattandet vid hjärtstopp prehospitalt.Metod: Studien utfördes som en allmän litteraturstudie där åtta vetenskapliga artiklar granskades och analyserades. Resultat: Tre kategorier framkom: Sjuksköterskans kompetens och erfarenhet, tillgänglig information samt emotionellt ansvar. Tidigare erfarenheter av att ha behandlat patienter med hjärtstopp innebär en bearbetning av känslor och åsikter, vilket framöver kan påverka beslutsfattandet och kliniska åtgärder. Fullständig information måste vara insamlat innan ett avgörande beslut fattas om återupplivningsförsöket ska fortgå eller avslutas. Sjuksköterskor upplevde att erfarenheter av sorg kunde vara fördelaktigt både i samtalet med närstående men också i beslutsfattandet. Konklusion: Kompetens och erfarenhet påverkar sjuksköterskornas beslutsfattande. Information kring patientens sjukdomsbild och den förväntade livskvalitén kan influera sjuksköterskans uppfattning om insjuknandet vilket kan vara avgörande för beslutet. / Background: Cardiac arrests kills many patients every year. Significant knowledge is required to identify cardiac arrests before being able to start early treatment. The nurse needs skills to be able to identify problems and ethical dilemmas trough a person-centered approach. Aim: The purpose was to describe the nurse's experiences of what influences decision-making in prehospital cardiac arrest. Method: The study was conducted as a general literature study where eight scientific articles were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Tree categories emerged: The nurse competence and experience, available information and emotional responsibility. Experience in treating cardiac arrest patients leads to the management of emotions and opinions that affects decision making and the quality of care. Complete information must be gathered before a decisive decision is made as to whether the resuscitation attempt should continue or be terminated. Nurses felt that experiences of grief could be beneficial both in the conversation with relatives but also in decision-making Conclusion: Competence and experience influence the nurses’ decision-making. Information about the patient's overall illness and the expected quality of life can influence the nurses’ perception of the illness, which can be vital for the decision.

Bakgrund: Sjuksköterskor som arbetar prehospitalt ska kunna bedöma om en patient är kritiskt sjuk samt kunna påbörja en adekvat behandling. Det är sällsynt med komplikationer vid luftvägshantering men det kan i stället ha allvarliga konsekvenser. Tidigare forskning presenterar att det visar en brist på utbildning vid luftvägshantering inom de prehospitala verksamheterna, där utbildning saknas för att bibehålla en viss kompetens hos sjuksköterskorna. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka hur utbildning påverkar sjuksköterskans hantering av en ofri luftväg prehospitalt.  Metod: En litteraturstudie med kvantitativ ansats med elva vetenskapliga studier. Datainsamlingen hämtades i databaserna PubMed och Cinahl. Resultat: Genom utbildning ökade kunskap och självkänslan hos sjuksköterskor som arbetar prehospitalt. Utbildningen bör hållas frekvent för att bibehålla kompetensen hos de prehospitala sjuksköterskorna. Efter utbildning av supraglottiska enheter för luftvägshantering, insåg personalen som arbetar prehospitalt att den är både lättare att hantera och går snabbare att använda jämfört med endotrakeal intubation.  Konklusion: Det är nödvändigt med en fortsatt kontinuerlig forskning i den prehospitala vården för att kunna ge och upprätthålla en säker vård till patienterna. / Background: The pre-hospital nurses must be able to assess if a patient is critically ill, as well as start adequate treatment for the patient. Complications in respiratory management are rare but can have serious consequences. Previous research indicate that airway management is worsening in pre-hospital settings, where there is a lack of training to maintain a certain level of competence within the nurse staff. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate how training affects the nurse’s management of an airway obstruction in a pre-hospital setting. Method: A literature review based on eleven scientific studies. The data collection was collected from the databases PubMed and Cinahl. Results: The training increased the knowledge and self-esteem of the pre-hospital nurses and should be offered regularly to maintain the competence of the staff. After the training period with supraglottic airway management devices, the pre-hospital nurses realized that the devices were easier to manage and faster to use compared to endotracheal intubation. Conclusion: Continuous research in prehospital care is necessary in order to provide and maintain safe care to patients.

Bakgrund: Ambulanssjuksköterskors uppdrag handlar till stora delar om att undersöka, bedöma, triagera och behandla patienter. Sjukdomsbilden spänner från svårt sjuka till enkla åkommor eller ibland helt oskadda patienter. Att hänvisa till rätt vårdnivå är viktigt då sjukvårdens resurser är begränsade och behöver användas på rätt sätt till rätt patienter. Rätt vårdnivå kan ibland innebära att patienten kvarstannar i hemmet, med råd till egenvård, eller att ta sig till vårdinstans med närståendes hjälp eller sjukresa, så kallad non-conveyance. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva ambulanssjuksköterskors upplevelser av non-conveyance i glesbygdsmiljö. Metod: Kvalitativ studie med induktiv ansats. Från fem ambulansstationer i norra Sverige rekryterades åtta deltagare. Datainsamlingen utfördes genom individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer. Därefter analyserades intervjuerna utifrån kvalitativ innehållsanalys med manifest ansats. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i två kategorier, “Avståndet är en betydande del i beslutet” och “Stärka mötet vid non-conveyance genom omvårdnad”. Dessa två kategorier innehåller fem underkategorier “Beslutet att lämna hemma på gott och ont”, “Utmaningarna ökar med avstånd”, “Möta motstånd och bemöta det”, “Viljan att göra mer och det lilla extra” och “Ta hjälp av hemtjänst eller närstående när patienten inte medföljer”. Slutsats: Erfarenhet och god kunskap är viktigt för att kunna genomföra en god undersökning och bedömning. Avståndet är också en betydande faktor i beslutet att lämna hemma, dessutom är viljan att göra det lilla extra en betydande del i arbetet i glesbygdsmiljö. Att göra bedömningar och ta beslutet att inte transportera patienten upplevs som både utmanande och svårt.

This thesis explores the potential of visual information and communication technologies (ICTs) for collaboration in emergency care. The thesis consists of four studies exploring future technology, 3D telepresence technology for medical consultation (3DMC), from several different methodological and analytical perspectives. Together the studies provide a broad view of the potential benefits, risks and implications of using visual technologies for collaboration in emergency care. The results show that paramedic-physician collaboration via 3DMC might have some benefits for patient care, both in the immediate patient care situation and beyond, for example, when coordinating transport and resources; improving understanding between different actors; and in developing paramedic competence and confidence in their skills. However, collaboration is heavily impacted by physicians’ and paramedics’ respective work practices which are situated in very different physical, professional and organizational contexts. Adding a visual dimension to this collaboration presents unique challenges for the overall design, development, implementation, and appropriation process. Thus, the thesis emphasizes the importance of understanding both the individual users as well as the complex overall image which, although often neglected or ignored, is crucial to understand when developing and introducing new technology that is successful and justified in the overall context while also being useful and meaningful for the individual users. / <p>Academic dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Gothenburg and the University of Borås to be publicly defended on Thursday 19 September 2013 at 13:15 in the auditorium at Simonsland, University of Borås, Skaraborgsvägen 3, Borås.</p>

Bakgrund: För ambulanssjuksköterskor innefattar arbetet ofta långa transporter till sjukhus. Transporttiden kan variera mellan 20 - 60 minuter. Vid pågående avancerad hjärt-lungräddning med manuella kompressioner står ambulansteamet obältade i höga hastigheter, då mekanisk kompressionsutrustning saknas. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka ambulanssjuksköterskors upplevelse vid hjärtstoppsituationer med efterföljande längre transport till sjukhus. Metod: Tio ambulanssjuksköterskor intervjuades. Till analysen av insamlad data användes kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats. Resultat: Resultatet visade att situationer då ambulanssjuksköterskor behöver utföra avancerad hjärt-lungräddning under längre transport till sjukhus medför känslor av att vara otrygg och utlämnad. Mekanisk kompressionsutrustning är inte standardiserad i alla ambulanser. För att utföra manuella kompressioner under transport krävs det att ambulanssjuksköterskan står obältad. De säkerhetsrisker detta innebär för ambulanssjuksköterskan och patienten, leder till känslor av utsatthet och otrygghet. I den prehospitala miljön krävs ofta snabba beslut som kan vara livsavgörande, och ambulanssjuksköterskorna menar att en höjd kompetens inom ambulanssjukvården skulle ge dem en tryggare yrkesroll.  Ambulanssjuksköterskorna värdesätter samverkanslarmen och ser dessa som välfungerande. Slutsats: Resultatet visar att det finns behov av standardiserad mekanisk kompressionsutrustning i alla ambulanser, åtgärder för att stärka teamarbetet, samt kompetensutveckling i det dagliga arbetet. För att skapa trygga team bör erfarenhet vara en viktig aspekt vid rekrytering av ambulanssjuksköterskor. Detta för att öka tryggheten, säkerheten och effektiviteten för ambulanssjuksköterskor vid längre transport till sjukhus. Nyckelord: Ambulanssjuksköterska, upplevelse, avancerad hjärt-lungräddning, prehospital transport, säkerhet, bröstkompressionssystem, kvalitativ innehållsanalys / Abstract Background: For ambulance nurses work often involves long journeys to the hospital. Journey times vary between 20-60 minutes. When the mechanical compression equipment doesn`t exist, the ambulance team is performing advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation with manual compressions, unbelted at high speeds. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the ambulance nurses experience of cardiac arrest situations with following longer transports to the hospital. Method: Ten ambulance nurses were interviewed. For the analysis of the collected data, qualitative content analysis with inductive approach was used. Results: The results showed that the situations when ambulance nurses need to perform advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation during longer transports to the hospital, causes feelings of being unsafe and deserted. Mechanical compression equipment is not standardized in all ambulances, and manual compressions during transport requires that ambulance nurses are unbelted. The security risks this implies for the ambulance nurse and the patient, lead to feelings of vulnerably and insecurity. In the prehospital environment that often requires quick decisions that can be life changing, ambulance nurses believe that a higher competence in ambulance service would give them a more secure profession. Ambulance nurses value the interaction with rescue and police, and see them as well functioning. Conclusion: The results show that there is a need for standardized mechanical compression equipment in the ambulances, measures to strengthen the teamwork, and competence in the daily work. These measures could contribute to increased efficiency and greater security in the professional role of ambulance nurses during longer transports to the hospital. In order to create safety and confidence in the ambulance teams, experience should be considered as an important aspect when recruiting ambulance nurses. Keyword: Paramedic, experience, advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation, prehospital transport, safety, chest compression, qualitative content analysis

Background: Changing service demands require United Kingdom ambulance services to redefine their role and response strategies, in order to reduce unnecessary Emergency Department attendances. Treat and Refer guidelines have been developed with this aim in mind. However, these guidelines have been developed in the absence of reliable evidence or guiding mid-range theory. This has resulted in inconsistencies in clinical practice. One condition frequently included in Treat and Refer guidelines is hypoglycaemia. Therefore this thesis aimed to investigate prehospital hypoglycaemic emergencies in order to develop an evidence base for future interventions and guideline development. Research approach: A pragmatic and inductive applied health services research approach was employed. Multiple methods were used in a sequential explanatory design. Three linked studies were undertaken with the results of previous studies informing the development of the next. Study one: A scoping review of prehospital treatment of hypoglycaemic events. Aims: i) To describe the demographics of the patient population requiring ambulance service assistance for hypoglycaemic emergencies; ii) To determine the extent to which post-hypoglycaemic patients with diabetes, who are prescribed oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA), experience repeat hypoglycaemic events (RHE) after being treated in the prehospital environment. Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted using an overlapping retrieval strategy that included both published and unpublished literature. Findings: Twenty-three papers and other relevant material were included. Hypoglycaemia related ambulance calls account for 1.3% to 5.2% of ambulance calls internationally. Transportation rates varied between studies (25%-73%). Repeat hypoglycaemic emergencies are experienced by 2-7% of patients within 48 hours. There was insufficient detail to determine any relationship between repeat events and OHA. The low quality of included papers means that the results should be cautiously interpreted. The safety of leaving patients on OHA at home post hypoglycaemic emergency is unknown. Consequently patients taking OHAs who experience a hypoglycaemic emergency should be transported to hospital for observation. There was a lack of knowledge about the Scottish demographics of the patient population. Study two: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study of diabetes related emergency calls. Aims: To investigate i) the patient demographics and characteristics of hypoglycaemia related emergency calls; ii) the incidence of repeat hypoglycaemic events; and iii) the factors associated with emergency calls that result in individuals being left at home. Methods: A retrospective observational cross-sectional study conducted using Medical Priority Dispatch System® call data from West of Scotland Ambulance Control Centre over a 12 month period. Data were extracted on age, gender, dispatch code, time of call, deprivation category, and immediate outcome (home or hospital). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine predictors of remaining at home. Findings: 1319 calls for hypoglycaemia were received. Patient demographics were similar to the scoping review findings. Most patients remained at home (N = 916 vs N = 380; p < .001). RHE’s were experience by 3.1% within 48 hours, and 10.6% within two weeks. The most significant independent predictor for patients remaining at home was a prior call to the ambulance service (OR of 2.4 [95%CI 1.5 to 3.7]). Patients’ reasons for remaining at home and the causes of subsequent severe events are unknown. It is likely that non-clinical factors may explain some of this behaviour. Study 3: Investigating patients’ experiences of prehospital hypoglycaemic care. Aim: To investigate the experiences of patients who are attended by ambulance clinicians for a hypoglycaemic emergency. Methods: In-depth interviews with adults with diabetes who had recently experienced a hypoglycaemic emergency treated by ambulance clinicians. Participants were recruited from Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lanarkshire Health Board areas. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Findings: Twenty six patients were interviewed. Three key themes were developed. Firstly, an explanation for help seeking behaviour; patients’ impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia as well as the inability of friends and relatives to cope can contribute to an ambulance call-out. Secondly, the perceptions of ambulance service care; patients felt the service provided was good; however ambulance clinicians’ advice was inconsistent. Thirdly, the influences on uptake of follow-up care; patient preferences for follow-up care were influenced by previous experiences of home, hospital and primary care. Post-hoc analysis identified three psychological theories that may explain these findings and provide a useful basis for intervention development: Common Sense Model (Leventhal et al, 1998); Health Belief Model (Rosenstock, 1966); Ley’s cognitive hypothesis model of communication (Ley and Llewelyn, 1995; 1981). Conclusion: Most people treated for severe hypoglycaemia by ambulance clinicians remain at home and do not follow-up their care. A few experience repeat hypoglycaemic emergencies. Key causal, but modifiable factors, contributing to this include:- impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia; inconsistent delivery of ambulance clinician referral advice; and patients’ perceptions of the costs and benefits of follow-up care. Ambulance services cannot address all these factors in isolation. The studies in this thesis have generated an evidence base and identified plausible candidate theories. This will support the future development of novel interventions to improve severe hypoglycaemic emergency follow-up.

This thesis deals with problems of psychological stress sustained by paramedics working in rescue service, as well as mapping the possibilities of the crisis intervention in case of excess stress events in the practice of these workers. The thesis is divided into two parts, theoretical and practical. The theoretical part of the thesis defines the basic terms relating to rescue services and paramedics, the stress, stress levels and subsequent psychosocial care, crisis intervention and its history. The practical part is focused on the level of mental stress found in paramedics in service, which was examined by the Meister questionnaire. In addition, the respondents were asked about the possible symptoms of acute stress. Another part of the questionnaire examined the awareness and possible experience of psychosocial assistance and crisis intervention among the paramedics of rescue services. The survey was conducted by questionnaire method in two regions of the CR, the Hradec Králové Region and the Moravian-Silesian Region.

Introduction to the issue: This paper examines the impact of burnout syndrome, which is common among caring professionals, on the sexuality of male paramedics. The term "burnout" was coined in the US 25 years ago. Burnout is defined as a mental state resulting from constant and long-term exposure to stress, especially in relation to psychosocial work factors (Melamed and Shirom, 2006). The effect of burnout syndrome on sexuality is a topic that has received very little attention. That is why I decided to cooperate with PhDr. Šárka Dynáková, Ph.D. and doc. PhDr. Jan Kožnar, CSc, who are working on an international study in the Czech Republic on the effects of burnout syndrome on human health. Methodology: For the theoretical part of this diploma thesis, use was made of monographs and databases. For the practical part, quantitative data was collected using standardized questionnaires distributed among male paramedics. The first questionnaire focused on burnout syndrome using a validated questionnaire for the Czech Republic, one that applies the Shirom-Melamed scale from 2006 (Ptáček, 2013). An extended Kroměříž version of the Sexual Functions of Men questionnaire was used for collecting the data on sexuality (Kratochvíl, 1999). After establishing five working hypotheses (H), the relationship between...

Problématique : Le rôle des paramédics se transforme partout dans le monde. Les besoins des aînés et des malades chroniques entraînent une forte proportion d’interventions préhospitalières non urgentes. La confrontation entre la perception et l’expérience du rôle peut entraîner un conflit correspondant à un stress organisationnel modéré et chronique chez ces travailleurs. Pour y faire face, différentes stratégies d’adaptation peuvent être adoptées. Objectifs : Cette étude vise à dépeindre la réalité des interventions préhospitalières non urgentes des paramédics québécois et à explorer son influence sur leur perception du rôle et les manifestations de cynisme et de désengagement. Méthode : Les données qualitatives obtenues en entrevues semi-structurées ont été codifiées et analysées à partir d’un modèle adapté des théories en psychosociologie du travail et d’administration de la santé (n=13, 3 régions, intervenants de - de 3 à + de 20 ans de carrière). Résultats : Les paramédics reconnaissent vivre un conflit de rôle alors que la formation et la définition de leur pratique se rapportent exclusivement à l’urgence, au contraire de leur expérience. Ils manifestent des attitudes de cynisme et de désengagement affectant la qualité des services, précisant qu’il s’agit d’une réalité inhérente à leur expérience professionnelle intimement reliée à l’épuisement professionnel, plus qu’à un manque fondamental de professionnalisme. Conclusion : Les paramédics décrivent différents mécanismes à instaurer qui visent à reconnaître la dualité conflictuelle de leur pratique dont, la mise en valeur de leur aptitude clinique à intervenir en première ligne dans un cadre préhospitalier non urgent ainsi que l’ajustement et le rehaussement des programmes de formation. / Problem: The paramedic’s role has been steadily evolving internationally. Elderly and chronically ill user’s demands have lead to an increase in prehospital non urgent interventions. Confronting the conflict between the perceived role of a paramedic and the shifting reality toward non urgent care may result in a role conflict that manifests as chronic-moderate organizational stress. Mechanisms of coping related to this stress may be adopted. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to depict the Quebec paramedic’s experience related to non urgent interventions and explore their role perception and resulting attitudes of cynicism and disengagement. Method: Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews have been codified and analyzed based on a model adapted from the literature on works in socio-psychology and health administration theories. (n=13, 3 administrative regions, less than 3 years to more than 20 years of career) Results: Paramedics acknowledge experiencing role conflict as they explain the formation of their work and field of practice as being exclusively oriented toward emergency response, contrary to their pervasive work reality. They demonstrate cynicism and disengagement, and specify it as being inherent to the professional experience and intimately linked with burnout, affecting quality of care despite fundamental professional intentions. Conclusion: Paramedics described different professional coping mechanisms aimed at acknowledging the conflicting duality of their practice, amongst them, showcasing their clinical capability to play an active role in primary health care in the prehospital, non urgent setting and adjusting and enhancing the training programs.

Introduction: The most appropriate airway management technique for use by paramedics in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is yet to be determined and evidence relating to the influence of airway management strategy on outcome remains equivocal. In cases where return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurs following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, patients may undergo direct transfer to a specialist heart attack centre (HAC) where the post resuscitation 12 lead ECG demonstrates evidence of ST elevation myocardial infarction. To date, no studies have investigated the role of airway management strategy on outcomes in this sub-set of patients. The AMICABLE (Airway Management In Cardiac Arrest, Basic, Laryngeal mask airway, Endotracheal intubation) study therefore sought to investigate the influence of prehospital airway management strategy on outcomes in patients transferred by the ambulance service directly to a HAC post ROSC. Methods: Adults with ROSC post out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who met local criteria for transfer to a HAC were identified prospectively. Ambulance records were reviewed to determine prehospital airway management approach and collect physiological and demographic data. HAC notes were obtained to determine in-hospital course and quantify neurological outcome via the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale. Neurologically intact survivors were contacted post discharge to assess quality of life via the SF-36 health survey. Statistical analyses were performed via Chi-square, Mann Whitney U test, odds ratios, and binomial logistic regression. Results: A total of 220 patients were recruited between August 2013 and August 2014, with complete outcome data available for 209. The age of patients ranged from 22-96 years and 71.3% were male (n=149). Airway management was undertaken using a supraglottic airway (SGA) in 72.7% of cases (n=152) with the remainder undergoing endotracheal intubation (ETI). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with good neurological outcome (CPC 1&2) between the SGA and ETI groups (p=.286). Similarly, binomial logistic regression incorporating factors known to influence outcome demonstrated no significant difference between the SGA and ETI groups (Adjusted OR 0.725, 95% CI 0.337-1.561). Clinical and demographic variables associated with good neurological outcome included the presence of a shockable rhythm (p < .001), exposure to angiography (p < .001), younger age (p < .001) and shorter time to ROSC (p < .001). Due to an inadequate response rate (25.4%, n=15) analysis of SF36 data was limited to descriptive statistics. Limitations: The study only included patients who achieved ROSC and met the criteria for direct transfer to a HAC. Results are therefore not generalisable to more heterogenous resuscitation populations. Accuracy of clinical decision making and ECG interpretation were not assessed and therefore some patients included in the study may have been inappropriately transferred to a HAC. The low SF-36 survey response rate limited the level of neurological outcome analysis that could be undertaken. Conclusion: In this study, there was no significant difference in the proportion of good neurological outcomes in patients managed with SGA versus ETI during cardiac arrest. Further research incorporating randomised controlled trials is required to provide more definitive evidence in relation to the optimal airway management strategy in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.