Peter Eaton-Williams1, Freda Mold2, Carin Magnusson3. 1. South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust: ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5664-3329. 2. University of Surrey: ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6279-5537. 3. University of Surrey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Despite widespread advocacy of a feedback culture in healthcare, paramedics receive little feedback on their clinical performance. Provision of 'outcome feedback', or information concerning health-related patient outcomes following incidents that paramedics have attended, is proposed, to provide paramedics with a means of assessing and developing their diagnostic and decision-making skills. To inform the design of feedback mechanisms, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of paramedics concerning current feedback provision and to discover their attitudes towards formal provision of patient outcome feedback. METHODS: Convenience sampling from a single ambulance station in the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in eight paramedics participating in semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to generate descriptive and interpretative themes related to both current and potential feedback provision. RESULTS: The perception that only exceptional incidents initiate feedback, and that often the required depth of information supplied is lacking, resulted in some participants describing an isolation of their daily practice. Barriers and limitations of the informal processes currently employed to access feedback were also highlighted. Formal provision of outcome feedback was anticipated by participants to benefit the integration and progression of the paramedic profession as a whole, in addition to facilitating the continued development and well-being of the individual clinician. Participants anticipated feedback to be delivered electronically to minimise resource demands, with delivery initiated by the individual clinician. However, a level of support or supervision may also be required to minimise the potential for harmful consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a just feedback culture within paramedic practice may reduce a perceived isolation of clinical practice, enabling both individual development and progression of the profession. Carefully designed formal outcome feedback mechanisms should be initiated and subsequently evaluated to establish resultant benefits and costs.
OBJECTIVES: Despite widespread advocacy of a feedback culture in healthcare, paramedics receive little feedback on their clinical performance. Provision of 'outcome feedback', or information concerning health-related patient outcomes following incidents that paramedics have attended, is proposed, to provide paramedics with a means of assessing and developing their diagnostic and decision-making skills. To inform the design of feedback mechanisms, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of paramedics concerning current feedback provision and to discover their attitudes towards formal provision of patient outcome feedback. METHODS: Convenience sampling from a single ambulance station in the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in eight paramedics participating in semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to generate descriptive and interpretative themes related to both current and potential feedback provision. RESULTS: The perception that only exceptional incidents initiate feedback, and that often the required depth of information supplied is lacking, resulted in some participants describing an isolation of their daily practice. Barriers and limitations of the informal processes currently employed to access feedback were also highlighted. Formal provision of outcome feedback was anticipated by participants to benefit the integration and progression of the paramedic profession as a whole, in addition to facilitating the continued development and well-being of the individual clinician. Participants anticipated feedback to be delivered electronically to minimise resource demands, with delivery initiated by the individual clinician. However, a level of support or supervision may also be required to minimise the potential for harmful consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a just feedback culture within paramedic practice may reduce a perceived isolation of clinical practice, enabling both individual development and progression of the profession. Carefully designed formal outcome feedback mechanisms should be initiated and subsequently evaluated to establish resultant benefits and costs.
Authors: Joan Sargeant; Heather Armson; Ben Chesluk; Timothy Dornan; Kevin Eva; Eric Holmboe; Jocelyn Lockyer; Elaine Loney; Karen Mann; Cees van der Vleuten Journal: Acad Med Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 6.893
Authors: Denise H Daudelin; Assaad J Sayah; Manlik Kwong; Marc C Restuccia; William A Porcaro; Robin Ruthazer; Jessica D Goetz; William M Lane; Joni R Beshansky; Harry P Selker Journal: Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes Date: 2010-05
Authors: Evan Hodell; Shana D Hughes; Megan Corry; Sean Kivlehan; Brian Resler; Nicolas Sheon; Prasanthi Govindarajan Journal: Prehosp Emerg Care Date: 2016-02-08 Impact factor: 3.077