Bhagwan Raisuyah, Ashokcoomar Pradeep
Department of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa.
Department of Emergency Medical Care, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services College, Durban, South Africa.
Health SA. 2021 Oct 28;26:1562. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v26i0.1562. eCollection 2021.
The safe transfer of critically ill neonates is important for their survival. This calls for greater preparedness on the part of paramedics to effect these transfers safely.
To understand the experiences and the challenges faced by advanced life support (ALS) paramedics during neonatal transfers.
The study setting consisted of advanced life support paramedics from urban and rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal. It comprised of a network of district hospitals as well air and ground transfer facilities, both public and private.
Using a qualitative research approach, the study sought the views of ALS paramedics who were involved in neonatal transfers in KwaZulu-Natal. A purposive sample of = 8 ALS paramedics was selected. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The data were analysed through the process of thematic analysis.
The study found that paramedics faced multiple complex challenges related to neonatal transfers. Poor pre-transfer preparation of the neonate, equipment related challenges, lack of clinical support available during transfers and pressure to effect inappropriate transfers were some of the challenges they faced. These challenges coupled with insufficient education and the lack of sub-speciality programmes to capacitate, rendered them unprepared to deal with neonatal transfers effectively.
Emergency medicine needs to provide greater attention towards preparing all stakeholders for successful neonatal transfers.
The findings provide recommendations for a programme that will limit risks involved with, and support the inter-healthcare facility transfer of critically ill neonates in South Africa.
危重新生儿的安全转运对其生存至关重要。这就要求护理人员做好更充分的准备，以安全地完成这些转运工作。
了解高级生命支持（ALS）护理人员在新生儿转运过程中的经历和面临的挑战。
研究地点包括夸祖鲁 - 纳塔尔省城乡的高级生命支持护理人员。它由一个地区医院网络以及公共和私人的空中及地面转运设施组成。
采用定性研究方法，该研究征求了参与夸祖鲁 - 纳塔尔省新生儿转运的ALS护理人员的意见。选取了8名ALS护理人员作为有目的的样本。通过深入的半结构化访谈收集数据。通过主题分析过程对数据进行分析。
研究发现护理人员在新生儿转运方面面临多重复杂挑战。新生儿转运前准备不足、与设备相关的挑战、转运过程中缺乏临床支持以及进行不适当转运的压力是他们面临的一些挑战。这些挑战加上教育不足以及缺乏培养能力的亚专业项目，使他们没有准备好有效应对新生儿转运。
急诊医学需要更加关注让所有利益相关者为成功的新生儿转运做好准备。
研究结果为一个项目提供了建议，该项目将限制南非危重新生儿在医疗机构间转运所涉及的风险，并提供支持。
