Management of COVID-19-related challenges faced by EMS personnel: a qualitative study.
BMC Emerg Med
; 21(1): 95, 2021 08 14.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1440901
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
As the first link in the chain of providing healthcare services in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are faced with various challenges, which affect their professional performance. The present study aimed to identify some strategies to manage the COVID-19-related challenges faced by the pre-hospital emergency care personnel in the south of Iran.METHODS:
In this qualitative descriptive study, 27 pre-hospital emergency care personnel who were selected through the purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through 27 semi-structured, in-depth, individual interviews. The collected data were then analyzed based on the Granheim and Lundman's method.RESULTS:
Analysis of the data resulted in the identification of 3 main themes and eight sub-themes. These three main themes were as follows comprehensive and systematic planning, provision of medical equipment, and reduction of professional challenges.CONCLUSION:
The findings of the present study showed that, during the COVID-19 crisis, emergency medical services personnel should be provided with a comprehensive and systematic protocol to provide pre-hospital care and their performance should be assessed in terms of a set of scientific standards. Due to lack of equipment and work overload in the current crisis, emergency medical services personnel are faced with many psychological challenges, which adversely affect their quality of pre-hospital emergency care. Furthermore, emergency care senior managers should develop comprehensive protocols, provide more equipment, and eliminate professional challenges to pave the ground for improving the quality and safety of the healthcare services in pre-hospital emergency care during the current COVID-19 crisis.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Health Personnel
/
Emergency Medical Services
/
Emergency Responders
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
/
Systematic review/Meta Analysis
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Emerg Med
Journal subject:
Emergency Medicine
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12873-021-00489-1
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