For when you just can't talk to 'normal' people... Exploring the use of informal support structures by supernumerary university paramedic students: findings from a phenomenological study.
Background: In an effort to shield them from distress, pre-hospital ambulance staff may avoid discussing traumatic workplace experiences with friends and family. As a source of informal support, however, workplace camaraderie is considered important for managing occupational stress. For supernumerar...
| Publicado en: | British Paramedic Journal Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 1 - 8 |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Formato: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
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College of Paramedics
Mar2023
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=162120014&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 162120014 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 14784726 LFLE jtl: British Paramedic Journal issn: 14784726 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Mar2023 vid: 7 iid: 4 pid: 46865 pub: College of Paramedics artinfo: ui: 162120014 162120014 162120014 10.29045/14784726.2023.3.7.4.1 162120014 ppf: 1 ppct: 7 formats: fmt: @attributes: type: P tig: atl: For when you just can't talk to 'normal' people... Exploring the use of informal support structures by supernumerary university paramedic students: findings from a phenomenological study. aug: au: Garratt, Mark affil: Coventry University (retired); Staffordshire University (student) ORCID iD:, URL: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6266-2825 sug: subj: Education, Emergency Medical Services Students, Allied Health Psychosocial Factors Peer Counseling Support, Social Coping Human Phenomenological Research Qualitative Studies Purposive Sample Semi-Structured Interview Adult Male Female Descriptive Statistics Data Analysis Software Adult: 19-44 years Male Female ab: Background: In an effort to shield them from distress, pre-hospital ambulance staff may avoid discussing traumatic workplace experiences with friends and family. As a source of informal support, however, workplace camaraderie is considered important for managing occupational stress. For supernumerary university paramedic students there is limited research concerning how such experiences are managed, and whether they may benefit from similar informal support. This is a concerning deficit when contextualised by reports of higher stress levels among students undertaking work-based learning, and among paramedics / paramedic students in general. These original findings allude to how university paramedic students who are supernumerary within the pre-hospital workplace utilise informal support mechanisms. Methods: A qualitative, interpretive approach was adopted. University paramedic students were recruited via purposive sampling. Audio-recorded face-to-face semi-structured interviews were performed and transcribed verbatim. Analysis involved initial descriptive coding and then inferential pattern coding. The identification of themes and discussion topics was facilitated by a review of the literature. Results: Twelve participants were recruited aged from 19 to 27 years, and 58% (n = 7) were female. While most participants cited that they were able to enjoy the informal stress-relieving camaraderie of ambulance staff, there were perceptions that supernumerary status may leave them potentially isolated within the workplace. Participants may also compartmentalise their experiences away from friends and family in a manner similar to that found among ambulance staff. Informal student peer support networks were praised as a source of information and for emotional support. Self-organised online chat groups were ubiquitous as a means of keeping in touch with student peers. Conclusions: While undertaking pre-hospital practice placements, supernumerary university paramedic students may not have complete access to the informal support of ambulance staff, and they may feel unable to discuss stressful feelings with friends or loved ones. However, within this study, self-moderated online chat groups were used almost universally as a readily accessible means of peer support. Paramedic educators ideally need an awareness of how such groups are used to ensure that they represent a supportive and inclusive space for students. Further research into how university paramedic students utilise online chat groups for peer support may further reveal a potentially valuable informal support structure. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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