Facilitators and barriers to collaboration between pre-hospital emergency and emergency department in traffic accidents: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Death caused by traffic accidents is one of the major problems of health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Rapid handover of the traffic accident victims and proper collaboration between the pre-hospital and emergency departments (EDs) play a critical role in improving the treatment process and decreasing the number of accidental deaths. Considering the importance of the collaboration between pre-hospital and emergency departments, this study was designed to investigate the facilitators and barriers of collaboration between pre-hospital and emergency departments in traffic accidents. METHOD: This research is a qualitative study using content analysis. In order to collect data, semi-structured interviews were used. Seventeen subjects (including pre-hospital and emergency department personnel, emergency medicine specialists, and hospital managers) were selected through purposive sampling and were interviewed. After transcribing and reviewing interviews, data analysis was performed with the qualitative content analysis approach. RESULTS: The participants consisted of 17 individuals (15 persons in pre-hospital and emergency departments with at least three years of work experience, one emergency medicine specialist and one hospital manager) who were selected by purposive sampling. The interviews were analyzed and three main categories and seven sub-categories were extracted. The main categories included "individual capabilities", "development of mutual understanding", and "infrastructures and processes". DISCUSSION: Proper and practical planning and policymaking to strengthen facilitators and eliminate barriers to collaborate between pre-hospital and emergency departments are key points in promoting collaboration between these two important sectors of health system and reducing the traffic accident casualties in Iran.

Challenges of Cooperation between the Pre-hospital and In-hospital Emergency services in the handover of victims of road traffic accidents: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: To take a deep look at the challenges of cooperation between the pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency services in the handover of victims of road traffic accidents. METHODS: This is a qualitative study and the method used is of content analysis type. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. Through purposive sampling, fifteen employees from ambulance personnel and hospital emergency staff were selected and interviewed. They expressed their experiences of cooperation between these two teams in the handover of traffic accident casualties. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and content analysis method was used to explain and interpret the content of the interviews. RESULTS: Three major categories were derived from the analysis of interviews: Shortage of infrastructure resources (Shortage of equipment, Shortage of physical space, and Shortage of manpower); Inefficient and unscientific management (Shaky accountability, Out-of-date information based activities, Poor motivation, and Manpower low productivity); and Non-common language (Difference in understanding and empathy, and Difference in training and experience). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results of this study suggest that the careful planning of resources, the promotion of managerial practices as well as empowerment program of the staff, healthcare managers and policymakers can take a pace forward in order to enter into a hearty coordination between these two services for the attention of victims of road traffic accidents.

Challenges of Cooperation between the Pre-hospital and In-hospital Emergency services in the handover of victims of road traffic accidents: A Qualitative Study

Objective. To take a deep look at the challenges of cooperation between the pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency services in the handover of victims of road traffic accidents. Methods. This is a qualitative study and the method used is of content analysis type. Semistructured interviews were used to collect the data. Through purposive sampling, fifteen employees from ambulance personnel and hospital emergency staff were selected and interviewed. They expressed their experiences of cooperation between these two teams in the handover of traffic accident casualties. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and content analysis method was used to explain and interpret the content of the interviews. Results. Three major categories were derived from the analysis of interviews: Shortage of infrastructureresources (Shortage of equipment, Shortage of physical space, and Shortage of manpower); Inefficient and unscientific management (Shaky accountability, Out-ofdate information based activities, Poor motivation, and Manpower low productivity); and Non-common language (Difference in understanding and empathy, and Difference in training and experience). Conclusion. The obtained results of this study suggest that the careful planning of resources, the promotion of managerial practices as well as empowerment program of the staff, healthcare managers and policymakers can take a pace forward in order to enter into a hearty coordination between these two services for the attention of victims of road traffic accidents.

Objetivo. Examinar los desafíos para la cooperación entre los servicios de emergencias prehospitalarias y hospitalarias en la entrega de víctimas de accidentes de tránsito. Métodos. Estudio cualitativo con análisis de contenido. Se utilizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas para la recopilación de los datos. Se seleccionaron y entrevistaron quince personas de los equipos de atención prehospitalaria y del servicio de emergencias de un hospital a partir del muestreo intencional. Los participantes expresaron sus experiencias de cooperación entre estos dos grupos en la entrega de víctimas de accidentes de tráfico. Las entrevistas se transcribieron textualmente y se utilizó el análisis de contenido para explicar e interpretar el contenido de las entrevistas. Resultados. Emergieron tres categorías principales: Escasez de recursos de infraestructura (equipos, espacio físico y de personal); Gestión ineficiente y no científica (responsabilidad inestable, actividades basadas en información desactualizada, motivación deficiente, y baja productividad de personal); y Lenguaje no común (diferencia en comprensión y empatía, y diferencia en capacitación y experiencia). Conclusión. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio muestran dificultades con la planificación de los recursos y la promoción de las prácticas de gestión, así como la necesidad de un programa de empoderamiento del personal. Se deben formular políticas para poder avanzar en el mejoramiento de la coordinación de los servicios en la atención a víctimas de accidentes de tráfico.

Objetivo. Examinar os desafios para a cooperação entre os serviços de emergências pré-hospitalar e hospitalar na entrega de vítimas de acidentes de trânsito. Métodos. Estudo qualitativo com análise de conteúdo. Se utilizaram entrevistas semiestruturadas para a recopilação dos dados. Através da amostra intencional se selecionaram e entrevistaram quinze pessoas das equipes de atenção pré-hospitalar e do serviço de emergências de um hospital. Os participantes expressaram suas experiências de cooperação entre estes dois grupos na entrega de vítimas de acidentes de trânsito. As entrevistas se transcreveram textualmente e se utilizou a análise de conteúdo para explicar e interpretar o conteúdo das entrevistas. Resultados. Emergiram três categorias principais: Escassez de recursos de infraestrutura (equipamentos, espaço físico e de pessoal); Gestão ineficiente e não científica (responsabilidade instável, atividades baseadas em informação desatualizada, motivação deficiente, e baixa produtividade de pessoal); e Linguagem não comum (diferença em compreensão e empatia, e diferença em capacitação e experiência). Conclusão. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo mostram dificuldades com a planificação dos recursos e a promoção das práticas de gestão, assim como a necessidade de um programa de empoderamento do pessoal. Se devem formular políticas para poder avançar no melhoramento da coordenação dos serviços na atenção as vítimas de acidentes de trânsito.