[Cooperation between ambulance personnel and regular general practitioners].

BACKGROUND: The ambulance service in Norway has gone through a pronounced upgrading of skills and professionalization during the last 10 years. The purpose of this survey was to obtain knowledge on how the ambulance personnel perceive their own professional competence and their relationship to other occupational groups with whom they cooperate. MATERIAL AND
METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to 300 persons who received authorization as ambulance personnel between 2002 - 2005. Questions were included on evaluation of inter-professional cooperation, professional appreciation and competence in practical handling of patients.
RESULTS: The response rate was 52 %. The ambulance personnel regarded the most problematic relationships and situations to be with nurses and regular general practioners in the out-of-hours services and with doctors in connection with emergencies at accident sites. 78 % of the ambulance personnel claimed that their own occupational group has the highest competence in the practical handling of patients with acute illness and injuries outside of hospitals. Nevertheless, only 19 % of them felt that occupational groups with who they cooperate appreciate their competence.
INTERPRETATION: Ambulance personnel have strong confidence in their own occupational group's competence in practical handling of patients. Strengthened formal competence combined with increased possibilities for initial medical treatment in the ambulances, may have contributed to an expanded role for ambulance personnel within pre-hospital emergency care. Smooth cooperation between regular general practitioners and ambulance personnel requires that both parties increase their understanding of the other group's procedures and roles.