Dr Sonja Maria1
1Charles Sturt, Bathurst, Australia
Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are essential tools for improving patient outcomes and standardising clinical practices. In recent years, the development of CPGs in Australasian ambulance services has gained attention, as healthcare professionals increasingly recognise the need for a unified approach to their development. Currently, each state operates independently, prompting many clinicians to advocate for a unified effort. To begin to understand this, it is crucial to investigate the current practices and practicalities of CPG development and implementation.
Method: A qualitative inquiry methodology was employed, with semi-structured interviews conducted with key stakeholders from Australasian ambulance services involved in CPG development. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed by the ACP CPG committee.
Results: The study found that CPG development involves a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, with input from various stakeholders throughout the process. Three major themes emerged from the study: 1) project management for CPG development in paramedicine is highly fluid, 2) the invisible workload, unknown costs, and unrecognised skills associated with CPG development create an unstable environment for estimating and budgeting the economic burden, and 3) inconsistencies in the expectations of roles and the guiding drivers for CPG development create a constant flux that erodes specialisation in the field.
Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in developing and implementing CPGs, as well as the need for ongoing evaluation and refinement of guidelines to ensure their quality and sustainability. The findings have implications for healthcare professionals and policymakers and can inform the future of CPGs in Australasia.
Biography:
Sonja has a diverse background in emergency healthcare after working in ambulance services nationally and internationally, including various roles as a paramedic and an education manager. Sonja’s main areas of interest are policy development and evidence-based guidelines for clinicians in the health field.