New Zealand Paramedics are Ready for An Autonomous Pre-Hospital Thrombolysis Protocol

Autor: Graham Howie, Paul Davis, Bridget Dicker
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Australasian Journal of Paramedicine. 14:1-8
ISSN: 2202-7270
DOI: 10.33151/ajp.14.3.244
Popis: Introduction Internationally, autonomous paramedic-delivered pre-hospital thrombolysis (PHT) administration for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients has proven to be a highly effective strategy in facilitating expedited delivery of this treatment modality. However, current New Zealand models rely on physician authorised telemetry-based systems which have proved problematic, particularly due to technological failings. The aim of this study is to establish whether current paramedic education in New Zealand is sufficient for the introduction of an autonomous paramedic clinical decision-making model of PHT. Methods A one-hour workshop introduced a new PHT protocol to 81 self-selected paramedic participants – both rural and metropolitan based – from New Zealand. Paramedics were then tested in protocol application through completion of a scenario-based standardised written test. Four written scenarios constructed from actual field cases assessed 12-lead electrocardiogram interpretation, understanding of protocol inclusion/exclusion criteria, and treatment rationale. Ten multiple-choice questions further tested cardiac and pharmacology knowledge as well as protocol application. Results Overall clinical decision-making showed a sensitivity of 92.0% (95% CI: 84.8–96.5), and a specificity of 95.6% (95% CI: 89.1–98.8). Electrocardiogram misinterpretation was the most common error. University educated paramedics (n=44) were significantly better at clinical decision-making than in-house industry trained paramedics (n=37) (p=0.001), as were advanced life support paramedics (n=36) compared to paramedics of lesser practice levels (n=45) (p=0.006). Conclusion Our New Zealand paramedic sample demonstrated an overall clinical decision-making capacity sufficient to support the introduction of a new autonomous paramedic PHT protocol. Recent changes in paramedic education toward university degree programs are supported.
Databáze: OpenAIRE