Description of the change in opinion score from the first to the second questionnaire for each statement
| Median change of opinion score (MCOS) | Interquartile range (IQR) for change of opinion score | Range (minimum to maximum change in score) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dispatch criteria | |||
| Paramedic (ALS) unit sent to all calls | 0 | 0.5 | −9 to 0 |
| ALS unit to all category A and B calls only | 0 | 0 | −2 to 8 |
| ALS unit to all category A and selected category B calls | 0 | 0 | −1 to 7 |
| Technicians with automated external defibrillator (T-AED) unit to selected category A and B calls and all C calls | 0 | 0 | −1 to 4 |
| A first responder unit ( with BLS skills only) can be sent to selected category C calls | 0 | 0 | −1 to 7 |
| A first responder unit to all category C calls | 0 | 0.5 | −5 to 1 |
| An assumed or confirmed cardiac arrest should receive an automatic additional response from other units | 0 | 0.5 | −2 to 9 |
| Transportation criteria | |||
| After assessment by an ALS unit, certain category B patients can be handed over to a T-AED unit for transportation to hospital | 0 | 0 | −1 to 1 |
| After assessment by an ALS unit , certain category B and all category C patients can be handed over to a T-AED unit or first responder unit for transportation to hospital | 0 | 0.5 | −2 to 6 |
| Development of advanced skills for paramedics | |||
| A number of paramedics within a system should have additional skills to perform endotracheal intubation using anaesthetic agents | 0 | 0.5 | −1 to 5 |
| Paramedics should be taught to carry out and interpret 12 lead ECGs for patients with chest pain | 0 | 0 | −1 to 3 |
| Paramedics should be taught to carry out thrombolysis for patients with confirmed acute myocardial infarction on a 12 lead ECG. | 0 | 1.5 | −1 to 5 |
| Development of a first responder system | |||
| A first responder system should be trained and fully integrated into an EMS system. | 0 | 2.0 | −2 to 9 |
| Should be employed solely by the ambulance service | 0 | 1.0 | −1 to 3 |
| Should be made up partly of members of the voluntary services | 0 | 0 | −5 to 3 |
| Should include members of the police service with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) | 0 | 0 | −2 to 4 |
| Should include members of the Fire Service with AEDs | 0 | 0 | −2 to 3 |
| Should include trained members of the local community | 0 | 0 | −1 to 4 |