An inpatient mental health placement for paramedic undergraduate students: a pilot study.
Curriculum
Education
Mental health
Paramedic
Pilot project
Student
Journal
BMC medical education
ISSN: 1472-6920
Titre abrégé: BMC Med Educ
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088679
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
27 Sep 2024
27 Sep 2024
Historique:
received:
06
06
2024
accepted:
18
09
2024
medline:
28
9
2024
pubmed:
28
9
2024
entrez:
28
9
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The prevalence of mental and behavioural illnesses in the Australian community is increasing. Paramedics are frequently the first health responders to a mental health crisis, and their workload associated with mental health presentations is also increasing. The present study explored the experience and perspectives of undergraduate paramedic students who participated in a pilot mental health placement. A pilot workplace learning opportunity was established in which students completed a portion of their community service hours in an inpatient mental health setting at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Eight students attended and completed the placement and were administered the Clinical Placement Evaluation Questionnaire. Student responses to this placement experience were overwhelmingly positive. The data showed that all the students responded "Strongly Agree" or "Agree" to each of the survey items. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data yielded four central themes related to benefits, additional training and education, nursing staff, and improvements. This pilot study suggests that mental health placements for paramedics have meaningful educational value and can impact student learning. Since this pilot study, mental health placements have been permanently included as part of the undergraduate curriculum in our institution.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of mental and behavioural illnesses in the Australian community is increasing. Paramedics are frequently the first health responders to a mental health crisis, and their workload associated with mental health presentations is also increasing. The present study explored the experience and perspectives of undergraduate paramedic students who participated in a pilot mental health placement.
METHODS
METHODS
A pilot workplace learning opportunity was established in which students completed a portion of their community service hours in an inpatient mental health setting at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Eight students attended and completed the placement and were administered the Clinical Placement Evaluation Questionnaire.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Student responses to this placement experience were overwhelmingly positive. The data showed that all the students responded "Strongly Agree" or "Agree" to each of the survey items. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data yielded four central themes related to benefits, additional training and education, nursing staff, and improvements.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study suggests that mental health placements for paramedics have meaningful educational value and can impact student learning. Since this pilot study, mental health placements have been permanently included as part of the undergraduate curriculum in our institution.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39334253
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06052-3
pii: 10.1186/s12909-024-06052-3
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1047Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
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