Becoming a better paramedic through the special needs school placement program

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Paramedic Practice
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Paramedics require diverse skills for varied patient populations, including children with special needs.
• Traditional clinical placements often lack exposure to diverse patient groups like those with disabilities.
• Undergraduate paramedic students need practical experience beyond hospital and ambulance settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure paramedic students' attitudes towards people with disabilities.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of clinical placements in special needs schools for paramedic students.

Main Methods:

• 109 first-year Bachelor of Paramedicine students completed the Interactions with Disabled Persons Scale.
• Five students participated in focus groups to explore their placement experiences.
• Placements were conducted in special needs schools across Victoria, Australia.

Main Results:

• Paramedic students reported positive experiences and improved attitudes towards students with special needs.
• Students found the placements challenging and overwhelming at times.
• Four key characteristics for effective paramedics were identified: empathy, genuineness, non-verbal communication, and rapid trust-building.

Conclusions:

• Clinical placements in special needs schools can positively influence paramedic students' attitudes.
• These placements offer valuable insights into essential paramedic skills for interacting with diverse populations.
• Further research into placements within special needs schools and marginalized communities is warranted for healthcare professions.