Student Paramedic and Practice Educator Experiences of Ambulance Placements. A Rapid Evidence Review.

Background: Ambulance practice placements overseen by paramedic practice educators form an essential aspect of training for student paramedics; however, this approach, adapted from other healthcare professions, is a relatively new model for paramedicine and evidence regarding its application in prehospital contexts is limited. Therefore, this rapid evidence review aimed to explore student paramedic and paramedic practice educator experiences of ambulance practice placements. Methods: EBSCOhost was used to search the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Complete and MEDLINE databases from inception to March 2024. Screening and data extraction was performed by one reviewer and verified by the second. Included studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist and thematic synthesis of results undertaken. Results: Of 134 records screened, seven were included in the review, representing 131 participants from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Four themes were identified, including practice educator training and support, student-practice educator relationships, organization and communication, and operational factors. Conclusion: Outdated workplace practices, personal factors, education-industry barriers and unpredictable working environments impacted student paramedic and paramedic practice educator experiences of ambulance practice placements. Better communication is needed between universities and ambulance services to improve the consistency of ambulance practice placements for student paramedics and paramedic practice educators.