9.7.3 Suitable patient compartment design of road ambulances (390)
Kerstin Petzäll, Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden Co authors: Ingela Eriksson, Christina Werner & Gun Nordström kerstin.petzall@kau.se
Abstract:
Background:
Transportation with road ambulances is increasing depending on a concentration of hospitals to larger units, with different medical specialities, with the highest medical and care quality. The concentration implies planned transportation between hospitals and also longer acute emergency transportation to hospitals. This, in turn makes higher demands on the design of the patient compartment to allow the personnel to work effectively and with a high quality when performing caring tasks. In addition, traffic safety and comfort for both the patient and the personnel must be taken into account.
Aim:
The aim was to determine the ambulance personnel’s experiences, opinions and requirements regarding the patient compartment to enable good quality care during transportation and with high traffic safety.
Method:
The study had a qualitative design and data was collected, in spring 2007, by interviews of 18 registered nurses and 6 paramedics from six ambulance stations, in the middle part of Sweden. An interview guide was designed for the study. A content analysis of the data was performed.
Results & discussion:
The personnel expressed a wish to have a larger patient compartment with medical and caring devices placed within easy reach when seated. They felt hindered to perform caring tasks and to reach necessary medical equipment while wearing the safety belt and were often unrestrained during emergency transportation. The personnel expressed that unfixed equipment as needles and heavy devices could hurt themselves, in case of heavy breaking or accident. They also sometimes experienced anxiety when some colleagues were driving the ambulance in emergency situations. The study gives important knowledge to improve care quality and safety during transportation as this is a weak link in the chain of caring events.
Conclusion:
The design of the patient compartment should be improved to allow the personnel to work efficiently and safely during transportation.
Recommended reading list:
- Becker L.R., Zaloshnja E., Levick N., Li G., Miller T.R. Relative risk of injury and death in ambulances and other emergency vehicles. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2003; 35: 941-948
- Ferreira J., Hignett S. Reviewing ambulance design for clinical efficiency and paramedic safety. Applied Ergonomics, 2005; 36: 95-105
- Granheim U.H., Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today, 2004; 24(2): 105-112
Source of Funding: Non UK
Amount in Funding: 10,001 - 50,000
Biography:
Biography – for Kerstin Petzäll I am a Registered nurse, teacher and Doctor of Philosophy. I am working as a senior lecturer in Karlstad University, Department of Nursing. I am responsible for two degree programmes in nursing which are Prehospital nursing and Operating room nursing. The thesis for Doctor’s degree (2000) deals with hospital beds, its function, usage and utilization, the patients’ and the personnel’s experiences, opinions and requirements regarding the bed and the bedside equipment in acute somatic hospitals. In later years my research works focus on prehospital care and especially the patient compartment of road ambulances to enable good quality care during transportation.