A Mixed Method Approach to Assessing the Feasibility of Implementing the Ottawa Paramedic Physical Abilities Test (TM) in the Australian Context.
Introduction: There is a need for evidence-based pre-employment physical fitness test standards in paramedic organisations. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing an existing, international, standardised pre-employment paramedic physical capacity test, the Ottawa Paramedic Physic...
| Published in: | Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences & Practice Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 1 - 18 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | questionnaire/scale research tables/charts Journal Article |
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Nova Southeastern University, College of Allied Health
2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=192458375&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 192458375 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 1540580X 1D4F jtl: Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences & Practice issn: 1540580X maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: 2026 vid: 24 iid: 1 pid: 24875 pub: Nova Southeastern University, College of Allied Health place: Fort Lauderdale, Florida artinfo: ui: 192458375 192458375 192458375 192458375 ppf: 1 ppct: 17 formats: tig: atl: A Mixed Method Approach to Assessing the Feasibility of Implementing the Ottawa Paramedic Physical Abilities Test (TM) in the Australian Context. aug: au: Sheridan, Samantha Pope, Rodney MacPhee, Renee S. MacQuarrie, Alexander Fischer, Steven Buzza, Gavin Stack, Hannah Bolton, Lyndal Grevell, Jacob Sheridan, Christopher Tony Buckman, Jacinta Rayner, Russell affil: Charles Sturt University sug: subj: Physical Fitness Evaluation Work Capacity Evaluation Methods Scales Employment Paramedics Students, Allied Health Education, Emergency Medical Services Task Performance and Analysis Grip Strength Evaluation Step Evaluation Human Adult Multimethod Studies Pilot Studies Australia Students, Undergraduate Nonexperimental Studies Electrocardiography Student Attitudes Evaluation Questionnaires Curriculum Development Purposive Sample Content Analysis Professional Role Plethysmography Job Description Health Status Wellness Physical Activity Exercise Intensity Descriptive Statistics Data Analysis Software Adult: 19-44 years ab: Introduction: There is a need for evidence-based pre-employment physical fitness test standards in paramedic organisations. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing an existing, international, standardised pre-employment paramedic physical capacity test, the Ottawa Paramedic Physical Abilities Test (OPPATTM), in the Australian context. Methods: In this mixed-method feasibility study, 12 undergraduate paramedicine students completed two generic predictive tests - a three-minute step test (3MST20) and a grip strength test - and two physical employment tests: the Ottawa Paramedic Physical Abilities Test (OPPATTM) and the New South Wales Ambulance Test (NSWAT) -- and a brief perception questionnaire after each test. Physiological data were collected during testing using Hexoskin® devices and analysed descriptively. Qualitative data relating to participant and investigator perceptions of the feasibility of the tests for use in the Australian paramedicine context were analysed through content analysis. Results: Of the 12 participants, six met the criteria to begin all physical tests. Two successfully completed all physical tests, measured by current pre-employment requirements. Participants reported feeling underprepared for the current physical employment standards and were uncertain about the physical capacity demands of the paramedic role. All the physical tests were considered, in part, feasible based on participant performance, cost, time requirements for test setup, and perceived job relatedness criteria; however, the OPPATTM was considered most relevant to the paramedic role. Conclusion: The OPPATTM is adaptable and likely feasible for application in Australian ambulance services as a physical pre-employment test that could be implemented by universities within curricula for student physical preparation. Current student paramedics, however, may not be sufficiently physically prepared for the test. Further work is needed to ensure standardised and appropriate student paramedic preparation, and preemployment testing specific to the paramedic role, supporting both staff and patient safety. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: questionnaire/scale research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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