Paramedics perspectives on stroke assessment

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Paramedics perspectives on stroke assessment in the pre hospital setting.

• IRAS ID

  263885

• Contact name

  Caroline Hogan

• Contact email

  caroline.hogan@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A, N/A

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 7 months, 2 days

• Research summary

  A descriptive qualitative study into paramedic’s perceptions on stroke assessment in the pre-hospital setting.
  
  This study will aim to gain insights into registered paramedics experiences of stroke assessment. If they use a stroke recognition tool, reasons into why this tool may support or hinder stroke recognition, along with other challenges they face will be explored. Although there is much published research into the design of new stroke recognition tools, there is little qualitative evidence on paramedics’ views in this area, with very limited evidence within a London, NHS context. This research will aid in building a body of evidence into paramedics’ clinical views they share when identifying stroke patients in the pre-hospital setting, which should be used when designing future stroke recognition tools.
  
  Study Objectives:

  • To assess paramedics opinions on stroke assessment and recognition tools, used in the pre-hospital setting
  • Explore the decision-making process and actions paramedics take when facing patients, who they believe are having a stroke, despite a negative recognition score.
  • Explore the decision-making process and actions paramedics take when facing patients with a positive recognition score, who they believe are not having a stroke.
  • Explore how paramedics feel these challenges can be overcome.

  Study design, Methods and data collection
  The aims and objectives of this research will be met using a qualitative methodology. The data will be collected using in-depth, semi-structured, individual face to face interviews, which will be carried out with 10 paramedics recruited from the London Ambulance Service. The objectives of the study will be explored using a topic guide which incorporates key themes found from published quantitative research. The study will be based at a single ambulance station, where paramedics will be invited to take part, if they have been qualified for 2 or more years. The study is expected to last approximately 1 year.

• REC name

  N/A

• REC reference

  N/A