TY - JOUR
T1 - Increasing paramedics' comfort and knowledge about children with special health care needs
AU - Spaite, Daniel W.
AU - Karriker, Katherine J.
AU - Seng, Marsha
AU - Conroy, Carol
AU - Battaglia, Norma
AU - Tibbitts, Mark
AU - Meislin, Harvey W.
AU - Salik, Ronald M.
AU - Valenzuela, Terence D.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported in part by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Grant no. 030671), Tucson, AZ.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - This study evaluated a continuing education program for paramedics about children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Pretraining, posttraining, and follow-up surveys containing two scales (comfort with CSHCN management skills and comfort with Pediatric Advanced Life Support [PALS] skills) were administered. Objective measures of knowledge were obtained from pre- and posttraining tests. Differences in average scores were assessed using t-tests. Response rates for paramedics completing the program ranged from 94% for the posttraining survey, 81% for the initial comfort survey, 56% for the knowledge pretest, and 56% for the follow-up survey. PALS comfort scores were significantly higher than CSHCN comfort scores both before and after training, both P < .01. Posttraining surveys showed an increase in CSHCN comfort, P < .01. The follow-up surveys showed a significant decline in CSHCN comfort, P = .05. Scores on the tests showed a similar pattern, with a significant increase in knowledge from pre- to posttraining (P = .02) and a significant decrease in knowledge from posttraining to follow-up (P < .01). Comfort was significantly higher for standard pediatric skills than for specialized management skills. Completion of the self-study program was associated with an increase in comfort and knowledge, but there was some decay over time. (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
AB - This study evaluated a continuing education program for paramedics about children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Pretraining, posttraining, and follow-up surveys containing two scales (comfort with CSHCN management skills and comfort with Pediatric Advanced Life Support [PALS] skills) were administered. Objective measures of knowledge were obtained from pre- and posttraining tests. Differences in average scores were assessed using t-tests. Response rates for paramedics completing the program ranged from 94% for the posttraining survey, 81% for the initial comfort survey, 56% for the knowledge pretest, and 56% for the follow-up survey. PALS comfort scores were significantly higher than CSHCN comfort scores both before and after training, both P < .01. Posttraining surveys showed an increase in CSHCN comfort, P < .01. The follow-up surveys showed a significant decline in CSHCN comfort, P = .05. Scores on the tests showed a similar pattern, with a significant increase in knowledge from pre- to posttraining (P = .02) and a significant decrease in knowledge from posttraining to follow-up (P < .01). Comfort was significantly higher for standard pediatric skills than for specialized management skills. Completion of the self-study program was associated with an increase in comfort and knowledge, but there was some decay over time. (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
KW - Children with special needs
KW - Education
KW - Emergency medical service
KW - Pediatrics
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U2 - 10.1053/ajem.2000.16300
DO - 10.1053/ajem.2000.16300
M3 - Article
C2 - 11103722
AN - SCOPUS:0033758669
SN - 0735-6757
VL - 18
SP - 747
EP - 752
JO - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
IS - 7
ER -