ArticleAfrican journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence2019
Waveform capnography in a South African prehospital service: Knowledge assessment of paramedics.
Article in African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- A retrospective review of advanced life support interfacility transfers of the public sector emergency medical service in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.The Southern African journal of critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Society · 2025Article
- Prehospital Airway Management for Trauma Patients by First Responders in Six Sub-Saharan African Countries and Five Other Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.World journal of surgery · 2022Article
- Article
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3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundWaveform capnography has proven to be of great value in the provision of safe patient care especially in the intubated patient. Although seldom available, or used in African contexts, capnography has become standard practice in well-resourced out-of-hospital services for confirmation of intubation, and optimization of resuscitation and ventilation. To date there has been little research into the knowledge of out-of-hospital staff, both local and internationally, utilising capnography. This study describes the knowledge of paramedics who use waveform capnography in the out-of-hospital environment.
methodsA cohort of advanced life support qualified paramedics in a private ambulance service in South Africa undertook a web-based survey around their background, training and use of capnography. Participants' knowledge was assessed by exploring their interpretation of waveform capnography and establishing attitudes pertaining to training and constraints of availability of capnography.
resultsSeventy eight paramedics responded, and most (91%) indicated they were likely to use capnography when the tool was available. The majority of training in capnography had been during their primary qualification (85%). Most participants indicated that they would like further training (91%). Use of capnography for confirmation of endotracheal tube placement and quality of compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation was well understood (correct in 94% and 84% respectively), while more complicated knowledge such as waveform changes during ventilation (66%) and the effect of hypovolaemia (48%) on capnography were lacking.
conclusionParamedics report using waveform capnography extensively when it is available in the South African out-of-hospital environment. Although the knowledge around capnography and its usage was found to be good in most areas, more complicated scenarios exposed flaws in the knowledge of many paramedics and suggest the need for improved and ongoing training, as well as incorporation into curricula as the field develops across the continent.
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