Abstract
The need for paramedicine research has been recognised internationally through efforts to develop out-of-hospital research agendas in several developed countries. Australasia has a substantial paramedicine research capacity compared to the discipline internationally and is well positioned as a potential leader in the drive towards evidence-based policy and practice in paramedicine. Our objective was to draw on international experiences to identify and recommend the best methodological approach that should be employed to develop an Australasian paramedicine research agenda. A search and critical appraisal process was employed to produce an overview of the literature related to the development of paramedicine research agendas throughout the world. Based on these international experiences, and our own analysis of the Australasian context, we recommend that a mixed methods approach be used to develop an inclusive Australasian Paramedicine Research Agenda. This approach will capture the views and interests of a wide range of expert stakeholders through multiple data collection strategies, including interviews, roundtable discussions and an online Delphi consensus survey. Paramedic researchers and industry leaders have the opportunity to use this multidisciplinary process of inquiry to develop a paramedicine research agenda that will provide a framework for the development of a culture of open evaluation, innovation and improvement. This research agenda would assess the progress of paramedicine research in Australia and New Zealand, map the research capacity of the paramedicine discipline, paramedic services, universities and professional organisations, identify current strengths and opportunities, make recommendations to capitalize on opportunities, and identify research priorities. Success will depend on ensuring the participation of a representative sample of expert stakeholders, fostering an open and collaborative roundtable discussion, and adhering to a predefined approach to measure consensus on each topic.
Highlights
The delivery of out-of-hospital care in Australia and New Zealand is characterised by strongly centralised and comparatively well-funded paramedic services, with most emergency paramedic services delivered through national, state, territory and regional providers as integral parts of national health systems
A significant number of paramedics are employed within the respective defence forces of each country [3]
A research agenda would provide a framework for the development of a culture of innovation and improvement within the industry
Summary
The delivery of out-of-hospital care in Australia and New Zealand is characterised by strongly centralised and comparatively well-funded paramedic services, with most emergency paramedic services delivered through national, state, territory and regional providers as integral parts of national health systems. An estimated 15,000 paramedics respond to over three million emergency medical calls per year in Australia and New Zealand; the emergency ambulance agencies have a combined annual budget of almost 3 billion Australian dollars [1,2]. Paramedics, and the publicly-funded organisations that employ them, are crucial components of the medical, public health, community health, public safety and disaster response systems. A significant number of paramedics are employed within the respective defence forces of each country [3]. Paramedics Australasia and the Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedicine, represent the professional interests of paramedics, while the Council of Ambulance Authorities represents the publicly funded emergency paramedic services in both Australia and New Zealand [4]
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