Original Contributions
Increasing paramedics' comfort and knowledge about children with special health care needs☆,☆☆,★,★★,♢

https://doi.org/10.1053/ajem.2000.16300Get rights and content

Abstract

This study evaluated a continuing education program for paramedics about children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Pretraining, posttraining, and follow-up surveys containing two scales (comfort with CSHCN management skills and comfort with Pediatric Advanced Life Support [PALS] skills) were administered. Objective measures of knowledge were obtained from pre- and posttraining tests. Differences in average scores were assessed using t-tests. Response rates for paramedics completing the program ranged from 94% for the posttraining survey, 81% for the initial comfort survey, 56% for the knowledge pretest, and 56% for the follow-up survey. PALS comfort scores were significantly higher than CSHCN comfort scores both before and after training, both P < .01. Posttraining surveys showed an increase in CSHCN comfort, P < .01. The follow-up surveys showed a significant decline in CSHCN comfort, P = .05. Scores on the tests showed a similar pattern, with a significant increase in knowledge from pre- to posttraining (P = .02) and a significant decrease in knowledge from posttraining to follow-up (P < .01). Comfort was significantly higher for standard pediatric skills than for specialized management skills. Completion of the self-study program was associated with an increase in comfort and knowledge, but there was some decay over time. (Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:747-752. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company)

Section snippets

Methods

The study sample consisted of self-selecting nationally registered certified Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics (EMT-Ps) from a single municipal EMS agency in an urban area in the southwest. Most of these paramedics had previously taken an continuing education class specializing in assessing and treating children either during or after completing their paramedic certification training. Orientation sessions were held at the EMS agency and paramedics were invited to participate in this

Results

Before implementation of the education program we received 72 (out of 89) pretraining comfort surveys back (81% response rate). Eighteen knowledge pretests (out of the 45 sent to randomly selected paramedics) were returned for a 40% response rate.

Only 52 (58%) paramedics completed the program requirements and received CE credit. Of this group of 52 paramedics, 42 had returned the pretraining comfort survey (a response rate of 81%). Fourteen of the 25 randomly selected paramedics (out of the

Discussion

EMS education relating to CSHCN is relevant to the practice of paramedics. A majority of the paramedics at this municipal fire department in an urban area had responded to a call involving a CSHCN and almost half had responded to a call involving an adult with special health care needs at some time in their career. Previous research has shown a need for education in this area, because many investigators have called for the inclusion of training about technology-assisted children in paramedic

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    • Cited by (0)

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    Returned December 3, 1999.

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    Supported in part by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Grant no. 030671), Tucson, AZ.

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    Address reprint requests to Daniel W. Spaite, MD, Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Arizona Health Sciences Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave, PO Box 245057, Tucson, AZ 85724. E-mail: [email protected]

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    Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:747-752

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    0735-6757/00/1807-0001$10.00/0

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    Copyright © 2000 W.B. Saunders Company. All rights reserved.