Emergency Medicine: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Workers' Clinical Skills at Out-of-Hospital Emergency Care

Mari Salminen-Tuomaala, Päivi Leikkola, Riitta Mikkola and Eija Paavilainen

Background: Workers’ clinical skills at out-of-hospital emergency care greatly affect patient safety and care quality. The objectives of the study was to examine emergency care workers’ self-perception of their clinical skills in out-of-hospital emergency care to produce new knowledge that can be used to develop basic and continuing education programmes.
Methods: A quantitative approach was selected. Participants consisted of nurses (86), practical nurses (48) and medical emergency technicians/ hospital and ambulance attendants (8) in out-of-hospital emergency service units in one hospital district in Finland (N=1, response rate 53%). Self-administered questionnaire with 8 background questions and 70 multi-choice questions analysed using SPSS for Windows 22.
Results: Respondents rated their skills in fluid care, circulation maintenance and care of lifeless patients highest, whereas the results were poorest for skills in intubation and care of gynaecological patients. Emergency care workers’ age, sex work experience, type of employment and educational background were associated with variation in their self-rated clinical skills.
Conclusions: Regular updates by means of simulation-based learning or group supervision are required, especially for novices and non-permanent workers to create safe routines in airway maintenance and caring for less common groups of patients.