Mrs Sam Sheridan1, Professor Rod Pope3, Doctor Russell Rayner2, Doctor Alexander MacQuarrie4
1School of Nursing Paramedicine and Health Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, Australia, 2School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie , Australia, 3School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, , Albury , Australia, 4Healthcare Innovations, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, , Australia
Biography:
Sam is an academic in paramedicine with clinical experience across metropolitan and regional ambulance services in the United Kingdom and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Sam is currently a PhD candidate specialising in paramedic physical health and fitness, including physical employment standards and the physical demands of paramedic practice.
Abstract:
Introduction: Existing evidence suggests that emergency services personnel with greater levels of job-relevant fitness reduces risk of injury. To date, no comprehensive overview of physical fitness testing requirements, preparation, and expectations across ambulance services in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland has been published. This scoping review aimed to identify physical fitness and capacity testing requirements and examine the evidence supporting their validity in assessing occupational capacity.
Methods: This scoping review followed a protocol registered with the Open Science Framework (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/BJQCY). Comprehensive searches of key literature databases and paramedicine organisation websites across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland were conducted. A deductive qualitative analysis approach was undertaken to describe and synthesise evidence, guided by JBI scoping review methodology.
Results: Sixty-six organisational documents were identified. In Australia, all services required candidates to complete a pre-employment physical fitness test; however, performance standards were often unclear. In New Zealand, one service provided both a testing protocol and clear pass criteria. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, eight of 14 services appeared to conduct pre-employment physical fitness assessments; however, only two test protocols were sourced. One service, in the UK, reported ongoing fitness testing, applicable to 1% of employees only.
Conclusion: Physical fitness testing across ambulance services was highly variable, with limited transparency in pass standards, restricted access to testing protocols, minimal evidence of validity, and no evidence of ongoing assessment. These findings highlight the need for greater standardisation, transparency, and the implementation of evidence-based fitness testing practices.