Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2019 | Original research
Implementation of new guidelines in the prehospital services: a nationwide survey of Norway
Authors:
Nina Øye Thorvaldsen, Lars Didrik Flingtorp, Torben Wisborg, Elisabeth Jeppesen
Published in:
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine
|
Issue 1/2019
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Abstract
Background
A debate regarding the potential harmful effects of rigid neck collar and backboard usage among prehospital and hospital care providers in Norway provoked the development of an evidence-based guideline. “The Norwegian guideline for the prehospital management of adult trauma patients with potential spinal injury” was developed with rigorous scientific methods and published in 2016. An e-learning course was developed in parallel. The aim of this study is to explore whether emergency medical services personnel in Norway have implemented the guideline, and to what extent the e-learning course was applied during the implementation process.
Method
An electronic survey was distributed individually to registered prehospital personnel in Norway 18 months after publication of the guideline.
Results
In all, 938 of 5500 (17%) EMS personnel responded to the survey. More than one-half confirmed knowledge of the guideline; among these, 56% claimed that the guideline was implemented in the service they work. Not having responded to trauma cases in real life was the main reason for not having executed the guideline. The e-learning course had been completed by 18% of respondents.
Conclusion
Although the guideline has not been authorized or made compulsory by national authorities, one-half of respondents with knowledge of the guideline reported it as implemented. E-learning did not seem to have affected the implementation. The guideline was developed based on perceived needs among care providers, and this probably facilitated implementation of the guideline.