Exploring paramedic care for First Nations in Alberta: a qualitative study.

Autor: Taplin JG; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Taplin, Bill); Department of Community Health Sciences (Taplin, Blanchard, Barnabe), University of Calgary; Emergency Medical Services (Taplin, Blanchard), Alberta Health Services; Department of Medicine (Barnabe), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Emergency Medicine (Holroyd, McLane), University of Alberta; Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (Holroyd, McLane), Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Stand Off, Alta., Bill L; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Taplin, Bill); Department of Community Health Sciences (Taplin, Blanchard, Barnabe), University of Calgary; Emergency Medical Services (Taplin, Blanchard), Alberta Health Services; Department of Medicine (Barnabe), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Emergency Medicine (Holroyd, McLane), University of Alberta; Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (Holroyd, McLane), Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Stand Off, Alta., Blanchard IE; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Taplin, Bill); Department of Community Health Sciences (Taplin, Blanchard, Barnabe), University of Calgary; Emergency Medical Services (Taplin, Blanchard), Alberta Health Services; Department of Medicine (Barnabe), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Emergency Medicine (Holroyd, McLane), University of Alberta; Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (Holroyd, McLane), Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Stand Off, Alta., Barnabe CM; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Taplin, Bill); Department of Community Health Sciences (Taplin, Blanchard, Barnabe), University of Calgary; Emergency Medical Services (Taplin, Blanchard), Alberta Health Services; Department of Medicine (Barnabe), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Emergency Medicine (Holroyd, McLane), University of Alberta; Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (Holroyd, McLane), Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Stand Off, Alta., Holroyd BR; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Taplin, Bill); Department of Community Health Sciences (Taplin, Blanchard, Barnabe), University of Calgary; Emergency Medical Services (Taplin, Blanchard), Alberta Health Services; Department of Medicine (Barnabe), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Emergency Medicine (Holroyd, McLane), University of Alberta; Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (Holroyd, McLane), Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Stand Off, Alta., Healy B; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Taplin, Bill); Department of Community Health Sciences (Taplin, Blanchard, Barnabe), University of Calgary; Emergency Medical Services (Taplin, Blanchard), Alberta Health Services; Department of Medicine (Barnabe), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Emergency Medicine (Holroyd, McLane), University of Alberta; Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (Holroyd, McLane), Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Stand Off, Alta., McLane P; Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre (Taplin, Bill); Department of Community Health Sciences (Taplin, Blanchard, Barnabe), University of Calgary; Emergency Medical Services (Taplin, Blanchard), Alberta Health Services; Department of Medicine (Barnabe), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta.; Department of Emergency Medicine (Holroyd, McLane), University of Alberta; Emergency Strategic Clinical Network (Holroyd, McLane), Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alta.; Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council (Healy), Stand Off, Alta. mclane@ualberta.ca.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: CMAJ open [CMAJ Open] 2023 Dec 12; Vol. 11 (6), pp. E1135-E1147. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Dec 12 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20230039
Abstrakt: Background: Prior work has shown that a greater proportion of First Nations patients than non-First Nations patients arrive by ambulance to emergency departments in Alberta. The objective of this study was to understand First Nations perspectives on transitions in care involving paramedics, and paramedic perspectives on serving First Nations communities.
Methods: Participants for this participatory qualitative study were selected by means of purposive sampling through author networks, established relationships and knowledge of the Alberta paramedicine system. First Nations research team members engaged First Nations community organizations to identify and invite First Nations participants. Four sharing circles were held virtually in July 2021 via Zoom by the Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre. We analyzed the data from the sharing circles using a Western thematic approach. The data were reviewed by Indigenous researchers.
Results: Forty-four participants attended the 4 sharing circles (8-14 participants per circle), which ranged from 68 to 88 minutes long. We identified 3 major themes: racism, system barriers and solutions. First Nations participants described being stereotyped as misusing paramedic systems and substance using, which led to racial discrimination by paramedics and emergency department staff. Discrimination and lack of options to return home after care sometimes led First Nations patients to avoid paramedic care, and lack of alternative care options drove patients to access paramedic care. First Nations providers described facing racism from colleagues and completing additional work to act as cultural mentors to non-First Nations providers. Paramedics expressed moral distress when called on to handle issues outside their scope of practice and when they observed discrimination that interfered with patient care. Proposed solutions included First Nations self-determination in paramedic service design, cultural training and education for paramedics, and new paramedicine service models.
Interpretation: First Nations people face discrimination and systemic barriers when accessing paramedicine. Potential solutions include the integration of paramedics in expanded health care roles that incorporate First Nations perspectives and address local priorities, and First Nations should lead in the design of and priority setting for paramedic services in their communities.
Competing Interests: Competing interests: The Alberta First Nations Information Governance Centre received a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant 414394) to support the conduct of this study. John Taplin, Ian Blanchard and Patrick McLane are employed by Alberta Health Services (AHS), a provider of emergency medical services in Alberta. Brian Holroyd is contracted to serve as the senior medical director of the AHS Emergency Strategic Clinical Network. John Taplin was paid as a research assistant for drafting the manuscript. He has received consulting fees from Siksika Health Services related to the development and implementation of a community paramedic program on a First Nation in Southern Alberta. No other competing interests were declared.
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Databáze: MEDLINE