Emergency Medical Technicians' Experiences of the Challenges of Prehospital Care Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.
COVID-19
Delivery of Health Care
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Technicians
SARS-CoV-2
Journal
Ethiopian journal of health sciences
ISSN: 2413-7170
Titre abrégé: Ethiop J Health Sci
Pays: Ethiopia
ID NLM: 101224773
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Nov 2021
Nov 2021
Historique:
received:
20
02
2021
accepted:
29
03
2021
entrez:
8
4
2022
pubmed:
9
4
2022
medline:
12
4
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Exploring emergency medical technicians' (EMTs) experiences of COVID-19 epidemic, help to identify the challenges they face in their daily work and develop strategies that address these challenges. This study aimed to explore EMTs' experiences of the challenges of prehospital care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study was conducted in March-July 2020 using conventional content analysis approach. Fifteen EMTs were purposively selected from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Center in Qom, Iran. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. EMTs' experiences of the challenges of prehospital care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic were classified into three main categories including "restless society", "difficult care delivery conditions", and "unprepared organization". The emergent subcategories were "need for information", "limited perception of the COVID-19 risk", "obsessive use of disinfectants", "fear over the transmission of COVID-19 to self and others", "burnout due to heavy workload", "altered communication with hospital staff", "ethical conflicts", "lack of a definite treatment plan", "lack of protective equipment", "staff shortage due to the affliction of EMTs by COVID-19", and "inadequate support by authorities". During COVID-19 pandemics, EMTs face many challenges including emotional and occupational stress, social strains, risk of affliction by infections, heavy workload, and ethical conflicts and hence, experience difficulties in quality care delivery. Developing appropriate strategies, guidelines, and policies are needed to effectively manage these challenges and improve the quality of prehospital care delivery in COVID-19 epidemic.
Sections du résumé
Background
UNASSIGNED
Exploring emergency medical technicians' (EMTs) experiences of COVID-19 epidemic, help to identify the challenges they face in their daily work and develop strategies that address these challenges. This study aimed to explore EMTs' experiences of the challenges of prehospital care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
This qualitative study was conducted in March-July 2020 using conventional content analysis approach. Fifteen EMTs were purposively selected from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Center in Qom, Iran. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached.
Results
UNASSIGNED
EMTs' experiences of the challenges of prehospital care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic were classified into three main categories including "restless society", "difficult care delivery conditions", and "unprepared organization". The emergent subcategories were "need for information", "limited perception of the COVID-19 risk", "obsessive use of disinfectants", "fear over the transmission of COVID-19 to self and others", "burnout due to heavy workload", "altered communication with hospital staff", "ethical conflicts", "lack of a definite treatment plan", "lack of protective equipment", "staff shortage due to the affliction of EMTs by COVID-19", and "inadequate support by authorities".
Conclusion
UNASSIGNED
During COVID-19 pandemics, EMTs face many challenges including emotional and occupational stress, social strains, risk of affliction by infections, heavy workload, and ethical conflicts and hence, experience difficulties in quality care delivery. Developing appropriate strategies, guidelines, and policies are needed to effectively manage these challenges and improve the quality of prehospital care delivery in COVID-19 epidemic.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35392330
doi: 10.4314/ejhs.v31i6.6
pii: jEJHS.v31.i6.pg1115
pmc: PMC8968364
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1115-1124Informations de copyright
© 2021 Parvaresh-Masoud M., et al.
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