What influences safety in paramedicine? Understanding the impact of stress and fatigue on safety outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to build on extant research linking fatigue to safety outcomes in paramedicine by assessing the influence of a multiplicity of workplace stressors, including chronic and critical incident stresses on safety outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was deployed to 10 paramedic services in Ontario. Validated survey instruments measured operational and organizational chronic stress, critical incident stress, post-traumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS), fatigue, safety outcomes, and demographics. Analysis of covariance assessed associations of workplace stresses with safety outcomes and corroborated findings using hierarchical linear model and generalized estimating equations (GEE) by taking into account paramedic service when assessing the proposed associations. A non-responder survey was conducted to asses for demographic differences in those who did and did not complete the survey. RESULTS: This survey had a response rate of 40.5% (n = 717/1767); 80% of paramedics reported an injury or exposure to pathogen, 95% reported safety compromising behaviors, and 76% reported medical errors. In the GEE analyses, paramedic injury was significantly related to fatigue (0.13, SE = 0.06, P = 0.020), critical incident stress (0.03, SE = 0.01, P < 0.01), and PTSS (0.03, SE = 0.01, P < 0.01). Safety compromising behaviors were significantly associated with fatigue (0.37, SE = 0.06, P < 0.01), organizational stress (0.06, SE = 0.01, P < 0.01), and critical incident stress (0.01. SE = 0.01, P = 0.017). Medication errors were significantly related to fatigue (0.12, SE = 0.05, P < 0.01). Finally, the bivariate analysis showed increased stress factors and fatigue was associated with increased safety outcomes. CONCLUSION: These findings illustrate that a host of different stressors may influence safety-related behaviors. For those interested in safety, these findings point to the need for a holistic focus on fatigue and stress in paramedicine.

Fatigue and Safety in Paramedicine.

OBJECTIVES: Extant research has established an empirical relationship between fatigue and safety-related outcomes. It is not clear if these findings are relevant to Canadian paramedicine. The purpose of this study was to determine if fatigue and shiftwork variables were related to safety outcomes in Canadian paramedics. METHODS: A survey was conducted with ten paramedic services in Ontario with a 40.5% response rate (n = 717). Respondents reported levels of fatigue, safety outcomes (injury, safety compromising behaviours, and medical errors/adverse events), work patterns (types of shifts, hours worked weekly) and demographic characteristics. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to assess for significant differences. RESULTS: In this sample, 55% of paramedics reported being fatigued at work. Fatigued paramedics were over twice as likely to report injuries, three times as likely to report safety compromising behaviors, and 1.5 times more likely to report errors/adverse outcomes. When controlling for fatigue, shift length variables did not consistently influence safety outcomes. CONCLUSION: These results create preliminary evidence of a relationship between fatigue and safety outcomes in Canadian paramedicine. While more research is needed, these findings point to the influence fatigue has on safety outcomes and provide an indication that fatigue mitigation efforts may be worthwhile.

OBJECTIF: D'après les travaux de recherche, il existe une relation empirique entre la fatigue et les résultats liés à la sécurité. Toutefois, on ne sait pas si les constatations s'appliquent à la paramédecine au Canada. L'étude avait donc pour but de déterminer si la fatigue et les variables relatives au travail par postes avaient une incidence sur les résultats liés à la sécurité chez les ambulanciers paramédicaux au Canada. MÉTHODE: Une enquête a été menée dans 10 services paramédicaux, en Ontario, et le taux de réponse a atteint 40,5% (n = 717). Les participants devaient faire état du degré de fatigue, de résultats liés à la sécurité (blessure, comportements mettant en péril la sécurité, erreurs médicales et effets indésirables), du régime de travail (type de roulement, nombre d'heures de travail par semaine) et de données démographiques. Des analyses de régression logistique et unidimensionnelle ont été effectuées afin de mettre en évidence des écarts importants. RÉSULTATS: Dans l'échantillon étudié, 55% des ambulanciers paramédicaux ont déclaré ressentir de la fatigue au travail. Ceux-ci étaient plus de deux fois susceptibles de subir des blessures, trois fois plus susceptibles d'avoir des comportements mettant en péril la sécurité et une fois et demie plus susceptibles de déclarer des erreurs ou des effets indésirables. Par ailleurs, lorsqu'on tenait compte de la fatigue, les variables relatives à la durée des postes de travail n'avaient pas la même incidence sur les résultats liés à la sécurité. CONCLUSION: Les résultats fournissent des données préliminaires sur l'existence d'une relation entre la fatigue et les résultats liés à la sécurité en paramédecine au Canada. Si le sujet demande à être approfondi, les constations font déjà ressortir l'incidence de la fatigue sur les résultats liés à la sécurité ainsi que la pertinence de trouver des moyens d'atténuation de la fatigue.

Impact of Expanding the Prehospital Stroke Bypass Time Window in a Large Geographic Region.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Ontario Acute Stroke Medical Redirect Paramedic Protocol (ASMRPP) was revised to allow paramedics to bypass to designated stroke centers if total transport time would be <2 hours and total time from symptom onset <3.5 hours. We sought to evaluate the impact and safety of implementing the Revised ASMRPP. METHODS: We conducted a 12-month implementation study involving prehospital patients presenting with possible stroke symptoms. A total of 1317 basic and advanced life support paramedics, of 9 land services in 10 rural counties and 5 cities, used the Revised ASMRPP to take appropriate patients directly to 6 designated stroke centers. RESULTS: We enrolled 1277 patients with 98.8% paramedic compliance in form completion. Of these, 755 (61.2%) met the redirect criteria and had these characteristics: mean age 72.1 (range 16-101), male 51.1%, mean time scene to hospital 16.7 minutes (range 0-92). Paramedics demonstrated excellent interobserver agreement (κ, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-0.96) and 97.9% accuracy in interpretation of the Revised ASMRPP. Prehospital adverse events occurred in 14.7% of patients, but few were life-threatening. Overall, 71.4% of 755 cases had a stroke code activated at the hospital and 23.2% received thrombolysis. For the 189 potential stroke patients picked up in 1 city, the ASMRPP classified thrombolysis administration with sensitivity 100% and specificity 37.3% and a final diagnosis of stroke, with sensitivity 86.1% and specificity 41.9%. CONCLUSIONS: In a large urban-rural area with 9 paramedic services, we demonstrated accurate, safe, and effective implementation of the Revised ASMRPP. These revisions will allow more patients with stroke to benefit from early treatment.

The Canadian National EMS Research Agenda: a mixed methods consensus study.

INTRODUCTION: Research is essential for the development of evidence-based emergency medical services (EMS) systems of care. When resources are scarce and gaps in evidence are large, a national agenda may inform the growth of EMS research in Canada. This mixed methods consensus study explores current barriers and existing strengths within Canadian EMS research, provides recommendations, and suggests EMS topics for future study. METHODS: Purposeful sampling was employed to invite EMS research stakeholders from various roles across the country. Study phases consisted of 1) baseline interviews of a subsample, 2) roundtable discussion, and 3) an online Delphi survey, in which participants scored each statement for importance. Consensus was defined a priori and met if 80% scored a statement as "important" or "very important." RESULTS: Fifty-three stakeholders participated, representing researchers (37.7%), EMS administrators (24.6%), clinicians/providers (20.7%), and educators (17.0%). Participation rates were as follows: interviews, 13 of 13 (100%); roundtable, 47 of 53 (89%); survey round 1, 50 of 53 (94%); survey round 2, 47 of 53 (89%); and survey round 3, 40 of 53 (75%). A total of 141 statements were identified as important: 20 barriers, 54 strengths/opportunities, 31 recommendations, and 36 suggested topics for future research. Like statements were synthesized, resulting in barriers (n  =  10), strengths/opportunities (n  =  24), and recommendations (n  =  19), which were categorized as time, opportunities, and funding; education and mentorship; culture of research and collaboration; structure, process, and outcome of research; EMS and paramedic practice; and the future of the EMS Research Agenda. CONCLUSION: Consensus-based key messages from this agenda should be considered when designing, funding, and publishing EMS research and will advance EMS research locally, regionally, and nationally.

Developing a Canadian emergency medical services research agenda: a baseline study of stakeholder opinions.

PURPOSE: This study forms the first phase in the development of the Canadian National EMS Research Agenda. The purpose was to understand the current state of emergency medical services (EMS) research through the barriers and opportunities perceived by key stakeholders in the Canadian system and to identify the recommendations this group had for moving forward. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted in the spring of 2011 using one-on-one semistructured telephone interviews. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit a cross section of EMS research stakeholders, representing a breadth of geographic regions and roles. Data were collected until thematic saturation was reached. A constant comparative approach was used to develop a basic coding framework and identify emerging themes. RESULTS: Twenty stakeholders were invited to participate, and saturation was reached after 13 interviews. Thematic saturation was used to ensure that the findings were grounded in the data. Four major themes were identified: 1) the need for additional research education within EMS; 2) the importance of creating an infrastructure to support pan-Canadian research collaboration; 3) addressing the complexities of involving EMS providers in research; and 4) considerations for a national research agenda. CONCLUSION: This hypothesis-generating study reveals key areas regarding EMS research in Canada and through the guidance it provides is a first step in the development of a comprehensive national research agenda. Our intention is to collate the identified themes with the results of a larger roundtable discussion and Delphi survey and, in doing so, guide development of a Canadian national EMS research agenda.

Methodology for the development of a Canadian national EMS research agenda.

BACKGROUND: Many health care disciplines use evidence-based decision making to improve patient care and system performance. While the amount and quality of emergency medical services (EMS) research in Canada has increased over the past two decades, there has not been a unified national plan to enable research, ensure efficient use of research resources, guide funding decisions and build capacity in EMS research. Other countries have used research agendas to identify barriers and opportunities in EMS research and define national research priorities. The objective of this project is to develop a national EMS research agenda for Canada that will: 1) explore what barriers to EMS research currently exist, 2) identify current strengths and opportunities that may be of benefit to advancing EMS research, 3) make recommendations to overcome barriers and capitalize on opportunities, and 4) identify national EMS research priorities. METHODS/DESIGN: Paramedics, educators, EMS managers, medical directors, researchers and other key stakeholders from across Canada will be purposefully recruited to participate in this mixed methods study, which consists of three phases: 1) qualitative interviews with a selection of the study participants, who will be asked about their experience and opinions about the four study objectives, 2) a facilitated roundtable discussion, in which all participants will explore and discuss the study objectives, and 3) an online Delphi consensus survey, in which all participants will be asked to score the importance of each topic discovered during the interviews and roundtable as they relate to the study objectives. Results will be analyzed to determine the level of consensus achieved for each topic. DISCUSSION: A mixed methods approach will be used to address the four study objectives. We anticipate that the keys to success will be: 1) ensuring a representative sample of EMS stakeholders, 2) fostering an open and collaborative roundtable discussion, and 3) adhering to a predefined approach to measure consensus on each topic. Steps have been taken in the methodology to address each of these a priori concerns.