Effect of Intern and Preceptor Gender on Internship Experiences for Paramedic Training

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine if the opportunity to execute advanced skills, including intravenous (IV) placement, intubations and medication administration was associated with preceptor/intern gender combination. Methods 16,466 emergency calls were analysed from the Field Internship Student Data Acquisition Project. The analysis focussed on emergency calls requiring IV placement, intubation and/or medication administration. A chi-square test for independence was used to compare three advanced skills executed based on the preceptor/intern gender combination. Results Male interns were more likely to execute IV placement regardless of the preceptor gender when compared to female preceptor and female intern combination (p<0.001). When male preceptors were paired with female interns, the number of IV placements executed was significantly lower only when compared to a male preceptor and male intern combination. Female preceptor and female intern combination resulted in a reduced number of times endotracheal intubation was executed only when compared to female preceptor and male intern combination (p=0.017). There were no differences in any combination when executing medication administration. Conclusion These findings suggest female interns may experience bias in executing fewer intubation and IV placement skills than their male counterparts on their first ambulance call of their internship.