An examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedics
Abstract Background Community Paramedicine is an evolving community-based model that expands paramedic roles from emergency and transport care to a focus on non-emergent and preventive health services tailored to local community needs. Though community paramedicine is a growing field and acceptance...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09537-x |
| _version_ | 1797818128589127680 |
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| author | Chinyere Mma Okoh Leticia R. Moczygemba Whitney Thurman Carolyn Brown Christopher Hanson James O. Baffoe |
| author_facet | Chinyere Mma Okoh Leticia R. Moczygemba Whitney Thurman Carolyn Brown Christopher Hanson James O. Baffoe |
| author_sort | Chinyere Mma Okoh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Community Paramedicine is an evolving community-based model that expands paramedic roles from emergency and transport care to a focus on non-emergent and preventive health services tailored to local community needs. Though community paramedicine is a growing field and acceptance is gradually increasing, there is limited information on community paramedics (CPs) perceptions of their expanded roles. The study’s aim is to assess CPs’ perceptions about their training, roles, role clarity, role readiness, role satisfaction, professional identity, interprofessional collaboration, and the future of the community paramedicine care model. Methods Using the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians-mobile integrated health (NAEMT-MIH) listserv, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in July/August 2020 using a 43-item web-based questionnaire. Thirty-nine questions evaluated CPs’ training, roles, role clarity, role readiness, role satisfaction, professional identity, interprofessional collaboration, and program/work characteristics. Four open-ended questions examined perceptions of the future of community paramedicine care models and challenges/opportunities encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation, Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Open-ended questions were analyzed using qualitative content analyses. Results Responses from fifty-seven CPs were analyzed. Most (80%) completed didactic and/or clinical training. Nearly all respondents (96.5%) performed health assessments; only 38.6% administered vaccines. Overall, participants were neutral about their role readiness with a mean score of 3.3/5.0. The mean role clarity was 15.5 (range 4–29; higher scores = higher clarity), professional identity was 46.8 (range 30–55; higher scores = higher identity), role satisfaction was 4.4/5 with 5 = very satisfied, and interprofessional collaboration was 9.5/10 (10 = very important). Role clarity training (rho = 0.4, p = 0.0013) and higher interprofessional collaboration (rho = 0.4, p = 0.0015) were found to be significantly associated with the enhancement of professional identity. Respondents who completed training showed higher role satisfaction compared to those who did not (p = 0.0114). COVID-19 challenges included keeping up with emerging policies/procedures, CPs’ well-being, and inadequate funding to meet service needs; opportunities identified included service delivery expansion and CPs meeting community needs in a flexible manner. Respondents reported that sustainable payment models, expanding services, and geographic reach were important to the future of community paramedicine. Conclusions Interprofessional collaboration is important to fulfill CPs roles. Role clarity and readiness could be improved, which aligns with the emerging nature of community paramedicine. The future of the community paramedicine care model is dependent on funding and expanding reach of services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:03:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-376f35b29c6441918e90aa8816941e74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:03:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-376f35b29c6441918e90aa8816941e742023-05-28T11:11:43ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-05-0123111310.1186/s12913-023-09537-xAn examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedicsChinyere Mma Okoh0Leticia R. Moczygemba1Whitney Thurman2Carolyn Brown3Christopher Hanson4James O. Baffoe5Health Outcomes Division, The University of Texas at Austin College of PharmacyHealth Outcomes Division, The University of Texas at Austin College of PharmacyThe University of Texas at Austin School of NursingHealth Outcomes Division, The University of Texas at Austin College of PharmacyTMF Health Quality InstituteHealth Outcomes Division, The University of Texas at Austin College of PharmacyAbstract Background Community Paramedicine is an evolving community-based model that expands paramedic roles from emergency and transport care to a focus on non-emergent and preventive health services tailored to local community needs. Though community paramedicine is a growing field and acceptance is gradually increasing, there is limited information on community paramedics (CPs) perceptions of their expanded roles. The study’s aim is to assess CPs’ perceptions about their training, roles, role clarity, role readiness, role satisfaction, professional identity, interprofessional collaboration, and the future of the community paramedicine care model. Methods Using the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians-mobile integrated health (NAEMT-MIH) listserv, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in July/August 2020 using a 43-item web-based questionnaire. Thirty-nine questions evaluated CPs’ training, roles, role clarity, role readiness, role satisfaction, professional identity, interprofessional collaboration, and program/work characteristics. Four open-ended questions examined perceptions of the future of community paramedicine care models and challenges/opportunities encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation, Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Open-ended questions were analyzed using qualitative content analyses. Results Responses from fifty-seven CPs were analyzed. Most (80%) completed didactic and/or clinical training. Nearly all respondents (96.5%) performed health assessments; only 38.6% administered vaccines. Overall, participants were neutral about their role readiness with a mean score of 3.3/5.0. The mean role clarity was 15.5 (range 4–29; higher scores = higher clarity), professional identity was 46.8 (range 30–55; higher scores = higher identity), role satisfaction was 4.4/5 with 5 = very satisfied, and interprofessional collaboration was 9.5/10 (10 = very important). Role clarity training (rho = 0.4, p = 0.0013) and higher interprofessional collaboration (rho = 0.4, p = 0.0015) were found to be significantly associated with the enhancement of professional identity. Respondents who completed training showed higher role satisfaction compared to those who did not (p = 0.0114). COVID-19 challenges included keeping up with emerging policies/procedures, CPs’ well-being, and inadequate funding to meet service needs; opportunities identified included service delivery expansion and CPs meeting community needs in a flexible manner. Respondents reported that sustainable payment models, expanding services, and geographic reach were important to the future of community paramedicine. Conclusions Interprofessional collaboration is important to fulfill CPs roles. Role clarity and readiness could be improved, which aligns with the emerging nature of community paramedicine. The future of the community paramedicine care model is dependent on funding and expanding reach of services.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09537-xCommunity paramedicineProfessional identityInterprofessional collaborationRole clarityRole readinessCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Chinyere Mma Okoh Leticia R. Moczygemba Whitney Thurman Carolyn Brown Christopher Hanson James O. Baffoe An examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedics BMC Health Services Research Community paramedicine Professional identity Interprofessional collaboration Role clarity Role readiness COVID-19 |
| title | An examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedics |
| title_full | An examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedics |
| title_fullStr | An examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedics |
| title_full_unstemmed | An examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedics |
| title_short | An examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine: a national cross-sectional survey of community paramedics |
| title_sort | examination of the emerging field of community paramedicine a national cross sectional survey of community paramedics |
| topic | Community paramedicine Professional identity Interprofessional collaboration Role clarity Role readiness COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09537-x |
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