Knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability
Abstract Background A 2017 nationwide disability survey conducted by the General Authority of Statistics in Saudi Arabia, a sample representing the whole population living in Saudi Arabia, reported that approximately 5% and 2% of the Saudi population suffers from visual or hearing impairments, respe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-023-00866-y |
| _version_ | 1797577649168580608 |
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| author | Nesrin Alharthy Raghad Almotairy Rahaf Aldulhum Albatool Alghamdi Reem Aquil Ghada Alkharaan Sara Alsuwais Abdullah Alshibani |
| author_facet | Nesrin Alharthy Raghad Almotairy Rahaf Aldulhum Albatool Alghamdi Reem Aquil Ghada Alkharaan Sara Alsuwais Abdullah Alshibani |
| author_sort | Nesrin Alharthy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A 2017 nationwide disability survey conducted by the General Authority of Statistics in Saudi Arabia, a sample representing the whole population living in Saudi Arabia, reported that approximately 5% and 2% of the Saudi population suffers from visual or hearing impairments, respectively. Patients with these disabilities find it difficult to convey their medical history and chief complaints to paramedics, causing communication breakdowns that can lead to misinterpretation of patient history, leave medical problems unaddressed, and reduce patient engagement and autonomy. We aimed to assess paramedics’ knowledge, attitude, and level of confidence when managing patients with visual or hearing problems. Methods Descriptive cross-sectional design was used to report the knowledge and experience of paramedics towards patients with hearing/vision disabilities in Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire was distributed to our study sample of paramedics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 01, July 2020 and 31, December 2020. Ethical approval was obtained from King Abdullah International Medical Research Center. Results Ninety-seven participants completed the survey. Male paramedics accounted for 77% of the study participants; 24% were Saudi Red Crescent employees, and 57% were 20–25 years old. Most participants encountered 1–5 cases of patients with hearing disability (55%) as well as patients with visual disability (48%) during their career. Taking medical history was a challenge indicated by 42% of the participants, and 30% reported difficulties in explaining procedures. Of the participants, 44% were confident in handling patients with hearing or visual impairment. There was a strong association between participants who indicated higher confidence levels and those who had obtained specific training for patients with hearing or visual impairments. Conclusion Assisting patients with hearing or visual impairments is challenging, especially during an emergency. We recommend programs that provide specific training in handling hearing or visually impaired patients to close the communication gap in emergent medical situations handled by paramedics or other emergency medicine doctors and nurses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:11:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2218b6402f2040f78d02159773ca6ee2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-227X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:11:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-2218b6402f2040f78d02159773ca6ee22023-11-19T12:34:54ZengBMCBMC Emergency Medicine1471-227X2023-08-0123111010.1186/s12873-023-00866-yKnowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disabilityNesrin Alharthy0Raghad Almotairy1Rahaf Aldulhum2Albatool Alghamdi3Reem Aquil4Ghada Alkharaan5Sara Alsuwais6Abdullah Alshibani7Pediatrics Emergency Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical CityEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesEmergency Medical Services Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health SciencesAbstract Background A 2017 nationwide disability survey conducted by the General Authority of Statistics in Saudi Arabia, a sample representing the whole population living in Saudi Arabia, reported that approximately 5% and 2% of the Saudi population suffers from visual or hearing impairments, respectively. Patients with these disabilities find it difficult to convey their medical history and chief complaints to paramedics, causing communication breakdowns that can lead to misinterpretation of patient history, leave medical problems unaddressed, and reduce patient engagement and autonomy. We aimed to assess paramedics’ knowledge, attitude, and level of confidence when managing patients with visual or hearing problems. Methods Descriptive cross-sectional design was used to report the knowledge and experience of paramedics towards patients with hearing/vision disabilities in Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire was distributed to our study sample of paramedics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 01, July 2020 and 31, December 2020. Ethical approval was obtained from King Abdullah International Medical Research Center. Results Ninety-seven participants completed the survey. Male paramedics accounted for 77% of the study participants; 24% were Saudi Red Crescent employees, and 57% were 20–25 years old. Most participants encountered 1–5 cases of patients with hearing disability (55%) as well as patients with visual disability (48%) during their career. Taking medical history was a challenge indicated by 42% of the participants, and 30% reported difficulties in explaining procedures. Of the participants, 44% were confident in handling patients with hearing or visual impairment. There was a strong association between participants who indicated higher confidence levels and those who had obtained specific training for patients with hearing or visual impairments. Conclusion Assisting patients with hearing or visual impairments is challenging, especially during an emergency. We recommend programs that provide specific training in handling hearing or visually impaired patients to close the communication gap in emergent medical situations handled by paramedics or other emergency medicine doctors and nurses.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-023-00866-yHearing disordersVision disordersEmergency medical servicesPrehospitalCommunication |
| spellingShingle | Nesrin Alharthy Raghad Almotairy Rahaf Aldulhum Albatool Alghamdi Reem Aquil Ghada Alkharaan Sara Alsuwais Abdullah Alshibani Knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability BMC Emergency Medicine Hearing disorders Vision disorders Emergency medical services Prehospital Communication |
| title | Knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability |
| title_full | Knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability |
| title_short | Knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability |
| title_sort | knowledge and experience of paramedics concerning patients with hearing and visual disability |
| topic | Hearing disorders Vision disorders Emergency medical services Prehospital Communication |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-023-00866-y |
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