Exploration of difficult conversations among Australian paramedics

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that healthcare professionals find it challenging to engage in difficult conversations regarding concerning behavior of colleagues. As a result, these conversations are often avoided. The inability to have these difficult conversations is associated with poorer patient outcomes, staff commitment, discretionary effort, and employee satisfaction. This descriptive study used an online questionnaire to examine responses of paramedics employed by Ambulance Victoria (Australia) regarding difficult conversations between colleagues about concerning behavior of co-workers. The results suggest that, like other healthcare professions, many paramedics find it challenging to raise these concerns. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study of its type to be undertaken within the paramedic profession and provides a platform for further research within this and other health professions.

A qualitative study to identify factors that influence patients’ decisions to call Emergency Medical Services for syncope

“…Patient-provider communication training has been extensively studied among physicians, and is effective in improving patient satisfaction and compliance (21,22). Past studies on communication training for EMS, however, have focussed primarily on interprofessional communication (23)(24)(25), rather than general patient-EMS interactions. There is a need for further research to develop and test interventions for increasing sensitive responding by EMS when attending to patients who have fainted.…”

“We are already person-centred in our practice”—A Qualitative Study of Ambulance Clinicians’ Experiences of Person-Centred Care

“…The participants in this study reported the risk of being seen as a wimp when trying to discuss person-centred issues, as the AS context was characterised as rather tough and medically orientated. A study indicated that ACs find it difficult to raise the issue of bad behaviour on the part of colleagues [36]. The workplace culture can therefore hinder discussions about behaviours in the encounter between colleagues, as well as concerning patients.…”

Advancing paramedicine: Error, accountability and patient safety

“…13 In the out of hospital setting, research into medical error has largely focused on medication safety and clinical error. [14][15][16] Beyond this, little has been published on error in paramedicine and its links to patient safety and individual and organisational accountability.…”

“…18 For instance, reporting of errors or near misses may be low due to a perceived lack of psychological safety for the reporters and others involved in the patient safety event. 15 Formal review of errors in healthcare may also, at times, be considered negative or punitive, 19 with participants possibly fearing recrimination for their perceived shortcomings. As has been reported in medication safety incidents, this may in turn lead to under-reporting of error and patient safety events, hindering opportunities for improvement.…”