Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31775727›Full record

ArticleBMC medical ethics2019

Ethical considerations in prehospital ambulance based research: qualitative interview study of expert informants.

Stephanie Armstrong, Adele Langlois, Niroshan Siriwardena, Tom Quinn

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical ethics, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. A systematic review of ambulance service-based randomised controlled trials in stroke.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2023
    Pooled it
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  4. Randomised controlled trials in pre-hospital trauma: a systematic mapping review.Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine · 2021
    Pooled it
  5. Trial
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  8. "I just needed help": a qualitative study of patients' experiences with a single responder ambulance.Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Stephanie ArmstrongSchool of Health and Social Care, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK. sarmstrong@lincoln.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-2599-4844
Adele LangloisSchool of Social and Political Science, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
Niroshan SiriwardenaProfessor of Primary and Pre-hospital Healthcare, Community and Health Research Unit School of Health and Social Care, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
Tom QuinnEmergency, Cardiovascular and Critical Care Research Group, Kingston University and St George's, University of London, 6th Floor, Hunter Wing Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK.

Funding

Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 110488/Z/15/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrehospital ambulance based research has unique ethical considerations due to urgency, time limitations and the locations involved. We sought to explore these issues through interviews with experts in this research field.

methodsWe undertook semi-structured interviews with expert informants, primarily based in the UK, seeking their views and experiences of ethics in ambulance based clinical research. Participants were questioned regarding their experiences of ambulance based research, their opinions on current regulations and guidelines, and views about their general ethical considerations. Participants were chosen because they were actively involved in, or in their expert capacity (e.g. law) expressed an interest in, ambulance based research.

resultsFourteen participants were interviewed including principal investigators, researchers, ethicists and medical lawyers. Five major themes were identified: Capacity, Consent, Clinical Considerations, Consultation and Regulation. Questions regarding consent and capacity were foremost in the discussions as all participants highlighted these as areas for concern. The challenges and use of multiple consent models reflected the complexity of research in this environment. The clinical theme referred to the role of paramedics in research and how research involving ambulance services is increasingly informing improvements to patient care and outcomes and reducing the burden on hospital services. Most felt that, although current regulations were fit for purpose, more specific guidance on implementing these in the ambulance setting would be beneficial. This related closely to the theme of consultation, which examined the key role of ethics committees and other regulatory bodies, as well as public engagement.

conclusionsBy interviewing experts in research or ethics in this setting we were able to identify key concerns and highlight areas for future development such as improved guidance.

Indexed as

AmbulancesBiomedical ResearchEmergency Medical ServicesHealth Services ResearchHumansInformed ConsentInterviews as TopicMental CompetencyQualitative ResearchAmbulanceClinical trialsConsentEthicsExpert interviewsParamedicsUnited Kingdom

Identifiers

PMID31775727
PMCPMC6882313

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.