Assessing non-conveyed patients in the ambulance service: a phenomenological interview study with Swedish ambulance clinicians.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To combat overcrowding in emergency departments, ambulance clinicians (ACs) are being encouraged to make on-site assessments regarding patients' need for conveyance to hospital, and this is creating new and challenging demands for ACs. This study aimed to describe ACs' experiences of assessing non-conveyed patients. DESIGN:A phenomenological interview study based on a reflective lifeworld research approach. SETTING:The target area for the study was Stockholm, Sweden, which has a population of approximately 2.3 million inhabitants. In this area, 73 ambulances perform approximately just over 200 000 ambulance assignments annually, and approximately 25 000 patients are non-conveyed each year. INFORMANTS:11 ACs. METHODS:In-depth open-ended interviews. RESULTS:ACs experience uncertai

SUBMITTER: Lederman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6773311 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature