Laws Samantha, Wang Chao, Halter Mary
Kingston University and St George's University of London ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0570-2015.
Kingston University and St George's University of London ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7873-0594.
Br Paramed J. 2020 Sep 1;5(2):1-9. doi: 10.29045/14784726.2020.09.5.2.1.
Changes in the paramedic profession have seen an increased range of medicines available within UK ambulances services. However, poor practice in medicines management has been identified by the Care Quality Commission. Literature in this area is sparse. This study aimed to determine the perceived knowledge, attitudes and practices of paramedics regarding pharmacology and the legal and regulatory issues of medicines management and administration.
The study utilised a cross-sectional survey design, administering an anonymous online survey to all (approximately 1000) paramedics within one UK NHS ambulance trust. The survey focused on paramedic knowledge on pharmacology, legal supply and administration; self-assessment of knowledge and confidence related to medicine management and administration; and personal characteristics. The primary outcome was percentage of (pre-determined) correct answers.
251 responses were received. The mean percentage of correct answers was 79.0% (SD 10.0), with variation by question observed, from 34.7 to 97.2% correct responses. A higher correct knowledge was associated with: higher self-rated confidence, lower self-reported knowledge, being less likely to report errors and higher education-based initial route into the paramedic profession.
This single-site UK-based survey highlighted variation in medicines knowledge among self-selecting paramedic respondents. The results indicate a need for medicines-specific further education for all paramedics, particularly those who have not experienced longer formal education entry routes, integrating a focus on confidence and self-perceived knowledge, and enhancing and embedding integrated improvement strategies. Further research is required with larger, multi-site samples, and to evaluate the impact of education packages developed.
护理人员职业的变化使得英国救护车服务中可用药物的范围有所增加。然而，护理质量委员会已发现药物管理方面存在不良做法。该领域的文献稀少。本研究旨在确定护理人员在药理学以及药物管理和给药的法律与监管问题方面的认知知识、态度和做法。
本研究采用横断面调查设计，对英国一家国民保健服务（NHS）救护车信托机构内的所有（约1000名）护理人员进行匿名在线调查。该调查聚焦于护理人员在药理学、合法供应和给药方面的知识；对与药物管理和给药相关的知识和信心的自我评估；以及个人特征。主要结果是（预先确定的）正确答案的百分比。
共收到251份回复。正确答案的平均百分比为79.0%（标准差10.0），各问题的回答情况有所不同，正确回答率从34.7%到97.2%不等。较高的正确知识与以下因素相关：较高的自我评定信心、较低的自我报告知识、较少报告错误以及通过基于教育的较长初始途径进入护理人员职业。
这项基于英国单一地点的调查突出了自我选择的护理人员受访者在药物知识方面的差异。结果表明，所有护理人员，尤其是那些没有经历较长正规教育进入途径的护理人员，都需要接受针对药物的进一步教育，将重点放在信心和自我认知知识上，并加强和融入综合改进策略。需要对更大规模的多地点样本进行进一步研究，并评估所开发的教育套餐的影响。
