Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38508615›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Perceptions and experiences of paramedics managing people with non-traumatic low back pain: a qualitative study of Australian paramedics.

Simon P Vella, Paul Simpson, Jason C Bendall, Kristen Pickles, Tessa Copp, Michael S Swain, Christopher G Maher, Gustavo C Machado

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 95% of its field
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

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Simon P VellaFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia simon.vella@sydney.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0003-1267-3782
Paul SimpsonSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Jason C BendallNSW Ambulance, Clinical Systems, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Kristen PicklesFaculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Health Literacy Lab, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1621-3217
Tessa CoppFaculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Health Literacy Lab, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7801-5884
Michael S SwainFaculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Christopher G MaherFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Gustavo C MachadoFaculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8544-0448
The University of Sydney · AUMacquarie University · AUNSW Ambulance · AUWestern Sydney University · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundParamedics are often first providers of care to patients experiencing non-traumatic low back pain (LBP), though their perspectives and experiences with managing these cases remain unclear.

objectivesThis study explored paramedic views of the management of non-traumatic LBP including their role and experience with LBP management, barriers to referral and awareness of ambulance service guidelines.

designQualitative study using semistructured interviews conducted between January and April 2023.

settingNew South Wales Ambulance service.

participantsA purposive sample of 30 paramedics of different specialities employed by New South Wales Ambulance were recruited.

resultsParamedic accounts demonstrated the complexity, challenge, frustration and reward associated with managing non-traumatic LBP. Paramedics perceived that their primary role focused on the assessment of LBP, and that calls to ambulance services were often driven by misconceptions surrounding the management of LBP, and a person's pain severity. Access to health services, patient factors, defensive medicine, paramedic training and education and knowledge of guidelines influenced paramedic management of LBP.

conclusionParamedics often provide care to non-traumatic LBP cases yet depending on the type of paramedic speciality find these cases to be frustrating, challenging or rewarding to manage due to barriers to referral including access to health services, location, patient factors and uncertainty relating to litigation. Future research should explore patient perspectives towards ambulance service use for the management of their LBP.

Indexed as

Emergency Medical ServicesEmergency Medical TechniciansLow Back PainAllied Health PersonnelAustraliaHumansParamedicsQualitative ResearchACCIDENT & EMERGENCY MEDICINEHospitalsPAIN MANAGEMENTPrimary Health CarePUBLIC HEALTH

Identifiers

PMID38508615
PMCPMC10952929
OpenAlexW4394760932

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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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.