Professionalism is the backbone of effective delivery of emergency medical services (EMS) practice, and is a component of the national standard curricula for advanced level of EMS education. The professional behavior of paramedics in Kuwait has never been evaluated. In this study peer evaluation has been used to assess these affective competencies of paramedics in Kuwait.
Focus group discussions were carried out at each of the six ambulance centers to get an insight into professionalism issues of paramedics. A professional behavior evaluation instrument developed by Brown et al (2005) was used to rate peers by paramedics of six Ambulance Districts in Kuwait. Paramedics with at least a diploma and one year field experience were asked to rate their paramedic partner with whom they have worked together in the past year on 11 categories of professional behavior using Likert scale. Variables such as nationality, educational qualifications, years of experience, marital status and ambulance centers were analysed.
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2Statement of the problem
1.3Research question
1.4 Objective of the study
Chapter Two: Review of the Literature
2.1 Professionalism definition
2.2 Principles of professionalism
2.2.1 Excellence
2.2.2 Humanism
2.2.3 Accountability
2.2.4 Altruism
2.2.5 Communication skills
2.2.6 Communication with patient and families
2.2.7 Ethics and law
2.3 Measuring Professionalism
2.4 Measuring professionalism across the continuum of health-professional career
2.5 Methods used for assessing professional behavior
2.5.1 Peer assessment
2.5.2 Faculty observations on student's professional behavior
2.5.3 Written examination
2.6 Summary
Chapter Three: Research Methods
3.1 Study design
3.2 Methodology
3.3 Data collection
3.4 Statistical analysis
3.5 Ethical considerations
Chapter Four: Study Results
4.1 A. Focus group findings
4.2 B. Survey results
4.2.1 Demographic data
4.2.2 Variables
4.2.3 The professional behaviour survey overall results
4.3 Effect of variables on professional behavior
4.3.1 Nationality
4.3.2 Marital status
4.3.3 Educational level
4.3.4 Years of experience
4.3.5 Ambulance districts
Chapter Five: Discussion & Limitations
5.1 Discussion
5.2 Study Limitations
Chapter Six: Conclusions & Recommandations
6.1 Conclusions
6.2 Recommendation
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to assess the professional behavior of paramedics in the State of Kuwait using peer evaluation. The primary research question addresses the extent to which prehospital care providers in Kuwait demonstrate professional behaviors, with the ultimate goal of identifying gaps in current training curricula and improving the quality of patient care.
- Assessment of paramedic professionalism via peer evaluation instruments.
- Identification of strengths and weaknesses in professional behaviors (e.g., empathy, communication, self-motivation).
- Evaluation of the impact of demographic variables (nationality, marital status, education, experience) on professional behavior.
- Analysis of differences in professional standards across various ambulance districts in Kuwait.
- Recommendations for integrating professionalism into the existing paramedic diploma curriculum.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2.1 Excellence
The concept of excellence begins with a commitment to competence in technical knowledge and skills, ethical and legal understanding, and communication skills. However, commitment to meeting minimal standards is not adequate for the fundamental nature of excellence is a continual conscientious effort to exceed ordinary expectations (ABIM 1994). Another expression for excellence is dedication to the continuous improvement of the quality of care by reducing medical errors, increasing patient safety, minimizing overuse of health care resources, and maximizing health outcomes. In order to improve quality of care, physicians in collaboration with other health professionals must generate better measures of quality of care and use these measures in routine evaluation of the performance of all participants, organizations, and systems responsible for health care delivery. Another aspect of excellence involves the promotion of scientific knowledge and technology. According to the ABIM charter (2002), physicians must uphold scientific standards, promote research, and produce new knowledge based on scientific evidence and experience. Also, doctors have the duty to protect and maintain the integrity of their medical knowledge and technology and to assure the integrity of the use of that knowledge and technology (Stern 2006).
Summary of Chapters
Chapter One: Introduction: This chapter introduces the global importance of professionalism in healthcare, specifically within the context of emergency medical services in Kuwait, and outlines the research objectives.
Chapter Two: Review of the Literature: This section provides a comprehensive overview of definitions, principles, and assessment methods for medical professionalism found in existing academic research.
Chapter Three: Research Methods: The chapter details the descriptive study design, involving focus group discussions and a peer-administered survey tool to evaluate paramedic behaviors.
Chapter Four: Study Results: This chapter presents the data collected from focus groups and surveys, analyzing professional behavior scores and the influence of demographic variables.
Chapter Five: Discussion & Limitations: The findings are interpreted regarding training needs and potential biases in peer evaluation, alongside acknowledging the study's specific limitations.
Chapter Six: Conclusions & Recommandations: The study concludes that while overall ratings are good, specific deficiencies exist, and provides recommendations for policy and curriculum changes.
Keywords
Professionalism, Paramedics, Peer Evaluation, Emergency Medical Services, Kuwait, Patient Advocacy, Empathy, Integrity, Medical Education, Self-Motivation, Professional Behavior, Healthcare Quality, Prehospital Care, Survey Assessment, Competency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on evaluating the professional behaviors of paramedics in Kuwait, identifying areas of strength and weakness to inform educational and quality improvements.
What are the central thematic fields?
The primary themes include medical professionalism, peer assessment methodologies, the influence of demographic factors on behavior, and the role of EMS education in fostering professional standards.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The primary goal is to determine the current level of professionalism among prehospital care providers in Kuwait and to suggest improvements for the paramedic diploma curriculum.
What scientific methods were employed?
The study utilized a descriptive, two-stage methodology consisting of focus group discussions and a self-administered survey based on an established professional behavior evaluation instrument.
What does the main body address?
The main body examines literature on professional standards, outlines the study design, reports the results of demographic and behavioral analyses, and discusses findings in the context of EMS management and training.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Professionalism, Paramedics, Peer Evaluation, Kuwait, Emergency Medical Services, and Patient Advocacy.
How do demographic factors influence the results?
The study found that variables such as marital status and educational level significantly impacted scores for certain professional behaviors, whereas years of experience showed less impact.
Why is the peer evaluation model used?
Peer evaluation is utilized because it provides a unique perspective on interpersonal skills and day-to-day professional interactions that other forms of assessment might overlook.
- Quote paper
- Ahmad Al Harbi (Author), 2009, Peer Evaluation of Paramedic Professional behaviors in State of Kuwait, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/289180
