Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study
Abstract Background The initial care of patients with sepsis is commonly performed by ambulance clinicians (ACs). Early identification, care and treatment are vital for patients with sepsis to avoid adverse outcomes. However, knowledge about how patients with sepsis are assessed in ambulance service...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-021-00440-4 |
| _version_ | 1818419530892836864 |
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| author | Agnes Olander Anders Bremer Annelie J. Sundler Magnus Andersson Hagiwara Henrik Andersson |
| author_facet | Agnes Olander Anders Bremer Annelie J. Sundler Magnus Andersson Hagiwara Henrik Andersson |
| author_sort | Agnes Olander |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The initial care of patients with sepsis is commonly performed by ambulance clinicians (ACs). Early identification, care and treatment are vital for patients with sepsis to avoid adverse outcomes. However, knowledge about how patients with sepsis are assessed in ambulance services (AS) by AC is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the meaning of ACs’ lived experiences in assessing patients suspected of having sepsis. Methods A descriptive design with a qualitative approach was used. Fourteen ACs from three Swedish ambulance organizations participated in dyadic and individual semistructured interviews. A thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology was performed. Results AC experiences were grouped into four themes: (1) being influenced by previous experience; (2) searching for clues to the severity of the patient’s condition; (3) feeling confident when signs and symptoms were obvious; and (4) needing health-care professionals for support and consultation. Conclusions This study indicates that several factors are important to assessments. ACs needed to engage in an ongoing search for information, discuss the cases with colleagues and reconsider the assessment throughout the entire ambulance mission. A reflective and open stance based on professional knowledge could contribute to recognizing patients with sepsis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:40:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e34fd1debd74aaea83f92ad1e302c74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-227X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T12:40:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e34fd1debd74aaea83f92ad1e302c742022-12-21T23:00:56ZengBMCBMC Emergency Medicine1471-227X2021-04-012111910.1186/s12873-021-00440-4Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview studyAgnes Olander0Anders Bremer1Annelie J. Sundler2Magnus Andersson Hagiwara3Henrik Andersson4University of Borås, PreHospen, Centre for Prehospital ResearchUniversity of Borås, PreHospen, Centre for Prehospital ResearchUniversity of Borås, Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social WelfareUniversity of Borås, PreHospen, Centre for Prehospital ResearchUniversity of Borås, PreHospen, Centre for Prehospital ResearchAbstract Background The initial care of patients with sepsis is commonly performed by ambulance clinicians (ACs). Early identification, care and treatment are vital for patients with sepsis to avoid adverse outcomes. However, knowledge about how patients with sepsis are assessed in ambulance services (AS) by AC is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the meaning of ACs’ lived experiences in assessing patients suspected of having sepsis. Methods A descriptive design with a qualitative approach was used. Fourteen ACs from three Swedish ambulance organizations participated in dyadic and individual semistructured interviews. A thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology was performed. Results AC experiences were grouped into four themes: (1) being influenced by previous experience; (2) searching for clues to the severity of the patient’s condition; (3) feeling confident when signs and symptoms were obvious; and (4) needing health-care professionals for support and consultation. Conclusions This study indicates that several factors are important to assessments. ACs needed to engage in an ongoing search for information, discuss the cases with colleagues and reconsider the assessment throughout the entire ambulance mission. A reflective and open stance based on professional knowledge could contribute to recognizing patients with sepsis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-021-00440-4Ambulance cliniciansAmbulance servicesAssessmentInterviewsSepsis |
| spellingShingle | Agnes Olander Anders Bremer Annelie J. Sundler Magnus Andersson Hagiwara Henrik Andersson Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study BMC Emergency Medicine Ambulance clinicians Ambulance services Assessment Interviews Sepsis |
| title | Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study |
| title_full | Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study |
| title_short | Assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services: a qualitative interview study |
| title_sort | assessment of patients with suspected sepsis in ambulance services a qualitative interview study |
| topic | Ambulance clinicians Ambulance services Assessment Interviews Sepsis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-021-00440-4 |
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