Bill Lord

Paramedic

Australia

Doctorate Title: Factors affecting paramedics’ assessment and judgement about pain experienced by patients in a community based health setting.

Doctorate Description: This study aimed to locate, analyse and understand data relating to the management of pain by paramedics in a community emergency health setting in Australia, and to compare this with contemporary standards of care. An analysis of patient care records was performed to gain evidence of the incidence of pain in cases attended by paramedics and current practice regarding the paramedic management of pain. Focus groups involving paramedics were undertaken in order to understand factors affecting pain management. This enabled the analysis of paramedics’ attitudes and beliefs relating to their role in pain assessment and pain management and their potential influence on practice.