Global health experience of staff working in UK emergency care: a reflexive thematic analysis

There is growing recognition among practitioners worldwide of the benefits of practising emergency medicine in different countries and healthcare settings. A recent survey by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine found interest and experience in global health (GH) work among college members, but many struggled with barriers that limited their contribution to this work. This study aims to understand the role of GH experience by emergency care practitioners and how it interconnects with the National Health Service and UK practice.

Anonymised semistructured interviews were conducted from August to November 2022 on a purposive sample of UK emergency care practitioners who had previously undertaken GH work. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse and present their experiences in this field.

The three key themes from the analysis were that emergency care is a specialty well positioned to contribute to GH settings; practitioners feel this contribution confers benefits to both the individual and their healthcare system; and the current structure of UK emergency care training presents barriers to maximising the benefits of these experiences.

The perceived benefits of GH involvement to the emergency care and base organisation are manifold; as are the skills offered by this practitioner group. Readily accessible funding, networks, mentorship and support from training programme leadership were all identified as ways of improving the quality and frequency of meaningful GH involvement.