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Paramedic Student Clinical Performance During High-Fidelity Simulation After a Physically Demanding Occupational
Alex Sandy MacQuarrie1, Jayden R Hunter, Samantha Sheridan
1From the Paramedicine Program (A.M.), Griffith University School of Medicine, Gold Coast, Queensland; Holsworth Research Initiative (J.R.H.), La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria; Paramedicine Program (S.S.), Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, New South Wales; Paramedicine Program (A.H.), Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland; Charles Sturt University (C.S.), School of Biomedical Sciences, Bathurst; and Charles Sturt University (J.W.), School of Biomedical Sciences, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Paramedicine students performed similarly or better in clinical simulations after physical exertion compared to rest. This suggests occupational physical activity does not negatively impact immediate clinical skills in trainees.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Sports Science
- Medical Simulation
Background:
- Paramedic roles involve physically demanding tasks in challenging environments.
- The impact of occupational physical activity on paramedic clinical skills and patient care remains under-researched.
- High-fidelity simulation offers a controlled method to assess these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of acute occupational physical activity (OPA) on the clinical performance of paramedicine students and graduates.
- To compare clinical skills and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efficacy in simulated scenarios following OPA versus a rest period.
Main Methods:
- A randomized crossover design was used with 11 paramedicine students/graduates.
- Participants completed two high-fidelity simulations (20 minutes each): one after OPA and one after rest (REST).
- Physiological measures (heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure) and clinical performance (Global Rating Score, patient care record, CPR efficacy) were assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found in Global Rating Score or CPR efficacy between OPA and REST conditions.
- Patient care record accuracy was significantly higher following OPA compared to REST (P=0.03).
- Physiological exertion was significantly higher during OPA simulations, indicated by elevated heart rate, respiratory rate, and initial mean arterial pressure.
Conclusions:
- Paramedicine students and recent graduates maintained or improved clinical performance in simulated scenarios immediately after acute physical exertion.
- Higher physiological exertion during OPA did not impair immediate clinical skill performance in this cohort.
- Further research is needed to determine if these findings apply to more experienced paramedics with varying fitness levels.
