Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 1/2019

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

Login to get access

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.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
go back to reference Prasad VS, Schwartz A, Bhutani R, Sharkey PW, Schwartz ML. Characteristics of injuries to the cervical spine and spinal cord in polytrauma patient population: experience from a regional trauma unit. Spinal Cord. 1999;37:560–8.CrossRef Prasad VS, Schwartz A, Bhutani R, Sharkey PW, Schwartz ML. Characteristics of injuries to the cervical spine and spinal cord in polytrauma patient population: experience from a regional trauma unit. Spinal Cord. 1999;37:560–8.CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Muhr MD, Seabrook DL, Wittwer LK. Paramedic use of a spinal injury clearance algorithm reduces spinal immobilization in the out-of-hospital setting. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2009;3:1–6.CrossRef Muhr MD, Seabrook DL, Wittwer LK. Paramedic use of a spinal injury clearance algorithm reduces spinal immobilization in the out-of-hospital setting. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2009;3:1–6.CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Spinal trauma. In: NE MS, Frame S, Salomone JP, editors. PHTLS: Basic and Advanced Prehospital Trauma Life Support. 5th ed. Missouri: Mosby; 2003. p. 226–48. Spinal trauma. In: NE MS, Frame S, Salomone JP, editors. PHTLS: Basic and Advanced Prehospital Trauma Life Support. 5th ed. Missouri: Mosby; 2003. p. 226–48.
6.
go back to reference Davies G, Deakin C, Wilson A. The effect of a rigid collar on intracranial pressure. Injury. 1996;27:647–9.CrossRef Davies G, Deakin C, Wilson A. The effect of a rigid collar on intracranial pressure. Injury. 1996;27:647–9.CrossRef
7.
go back to reference Ho AM, Fung KY, Joynt GM, Karmakar MK, Peng Z. Rigid cervical collar and intracranial pressure of patients with severe head injury. J Trauma. 2002;53:1185–8.CrossRef Ho AM, Fung KY, Joynt GM, Karmakar MK, Peng Z. Rigid cervical collar and intracranial pressure of patients with severe head injury. J Trauma. 2002;53:1185–8.CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Hunt K, Hallworth S, Smith M. The effects of rigid collar placement on intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures. Anaesthesia. 2001;56:511–3.CrossRef Hunt K, Hallworth S, Smith M. The effects of rigid collar placement on intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures. Anaesthesia. 2001;56:511–3.CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Andrews J, Guyatt G, Oxman AD, Alderson P, Dahm P, Falck-Ytter Y, Nasser M, Meehrpohl J, Post PN, Kunz R, et al. GRADE guidelines: 14. Going from evidence to recommendations: the significance and presentation of recommendations. J Clin Epidemiol. 2013;66:719–5.CrossRef Andrews J, Guyatt G, Oxman AD, Alderson P, Dahm P, Falck-Ytter Y, Nasser M, Meehrpohl J, Post PN, Kunz R, et al. GRADE guidelines: 14. Going from evidence to recommendations: the significance and presentation of recommendations. J Clin Epidemiol. 2013;66:719–5.CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Hoffman JR, Mower WR, Wolfson AB, Todd KH, Zucker MI. Validity of a set of clinical criteria to rule out injury to the cervical spine in patients with blunt trauma. National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study Group. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(2):94–9.CrossRef Hoffman JR, Mower WR, Wolfson AB, Todd KH, Zucker MI. Validity of a set of clinical criteria to rule out injury to the cervical spine in patients with blunt trauma. National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study Group. N Engl J Med. 2000;343(2):94–9.CrossRef
22.
go back to reference Norwegian Medical Association. Norwegian Index of Emergency Medical Assistance. Stavanger: The Laerdal Foundation for Acute Medicine; 2005. Norwegian Medical Association. Norwegian Index of Emergency Medical Assistance. Stavanger: The Laerdal Foundation for Acute Medicine; 2005.
23.
go back to reference Helsedirektoratet, Politidirektoratet, Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap: Nødetatenes samvirke ved pågående livstruende vold PLIVO. 1th ed. 2015. Helsedirektoratet, Politidirektoratet, Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap: Nødetatenes samvirke ved pågående livstruende vold PLIVO. 1th ed. 2015.
29.
go back to reference IBM SPSS Statistics. (Version 25) [ Computer software] edn; 2017. IBM SPSS Statistics. (Version 25) [ Computer software] edn; 2017.
30.
go back to reference Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004;24:105–12.CrossRef Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004;24:105–12.CrossRef
37.
go back to reference Grimshaw JM, Thomas RE, MacLennan G, Fraser C, Ramsay CR, Vale L, Whitty P, Eccles MP, Matowe L, Shirran L, et al. Effectiveness and efficiency of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies. Health Technol Assess. 2004;8(6). Grimshaw JM, Thomas RE, MacLennan G, Fraser C, Ramsay CR, Vale L, Whitty P, Eccles MP, Matowe L, Shirran L, et al. Effectiveness and efficiency of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies. Health Technol Assess. 2004;8(6).
38.
go back to reference NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Getting evidence into practice. Eff Health Care. 1999;5:1–16. NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Getting evidence into practice. Eff Health Care. 1999;5:1–16.
39.
go back to reference Grimshaw J, Eccles M, Thomas R, MacLennan G, Ramsay C, Fraser C, Vale L. Toward Evidence-Based Quality Improvement. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21:14–20. Grimshaw J, Eccles M, Thomas R, MacLennan G, Ramsay C, Fraser C, Vale L. Toward Evidence-Based Quality Improvement. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21:14–20.
41.
go back to reference Grol R, Wensing M, Eccles M, Davies DA. Improving patient care: the implementation of change in clinical practice. 2nd ed. UK: Elsevier; 2013.CrossRef Grol R, Wensing M, Eccles M, Davies DA. Improving patient care: the implementation of change in clinical practice. 2nd ed. UK: Elsevier; 2013.CrossRef
45.
go back to reference Kitson A, Harvey G, McCormack B. Enabling the implementation of evidence based practice: a conceptual framework. Qual Health Care. 1998;7:149–58.CrossRef Kitson A, Harvey G, McCormack B. Enabling the implementation of evidence based practice: a conceptual framework. Qual Health Care. 1998;7:149–58.CrossRef
47.
go back to reference Forrest D, Hoskins A, Hussey R. Clinical guidelines and their implementation. Postgrad Med J. 1996;72:19–22.CrossRef Forrest D, Hoskins A, Hussey R. Clinical guidelines and their implementation. Postgrad Med J. 1996;72:19–22.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Implementation of new guidelines in the prehospital services: a nationwide survey of Norway
Authors
Nina Øye Thorvaldsen
Lars Didrik Flingtorp
Torben Wisborg
Elisabeth Jeppesen
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-019-0660-0

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 1/2019 Go to the issue