Journal article 16 views 4 downloads
Just-in-case medication use by ambulance paramedics responding to end-of-life care in the community: protocol for a multi-method study (RELIEF)
,
Idris Baker,
Natasha Campling,
Marika Hills,
Emyr Jones,
Sian Jones,
Rashmi Kumar,
Edward O’Brian,
Alison Porter ,
Berni Sewell,
Lauren Williams,
Cendl Xanthe
British Paramedic Journal, Volume: 10, Issue: 3, Pages: 1 - 9
Swansea University Authors:
Mark Kingston , Alison Porter , Berni Sewell
-
PDF | Version of Record
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is Open Access under the terms of the Creative Commons (CC BY) licence.
Download (289.06KB)
DOI (Published version): 10.29045/14784726.2025.12.10.3.1
Abstract
Introduction: At the end of life, anticipatory or just-in-case (JIC) medications may help manage patients’ symptoms. Sometimes, emergency ambulances attend patients for whom JIC medications have not been prescribed. In Wales, UK, a Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST) JIC interventio...
| Published in: | British Paramedic Journal |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1478-4726 |
| Published: |
Class Publishing
2025
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71380 |
| Abstract: |
Introduction: At the end of life, anticipatory or just-in-case (JIC) medications may help manage patients’ symptoms. Sometimes, emergency ambulances attend patients for whom JIC medications have not been prescribed. In Wales, UK, a Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST) JIC intervention was launched in May 2020 in response to COVID-19, to enable ambulance paramedics to administer JIC medications to patients for whom they had not previously been prescribed. The ambulance JIC intervention is an ongoing feature of WAST pre-hospital care but has received limited evaluation. This study will explore the rationale, usage, costs and views of stakeholders of the WAST JIC medications intervention.Methods: We will employ a multi-method observational study design that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative aspects, informed by implementation science. We will prepare a detailed description of the WAST JIC medications intervention, its rationale and its use. We will interview paramedics and doctors who have provided the intervention, as well as paid and informal carers who were present during the care episode. We will also hold a focus group with paramedics who have not administered the intervention and undertake a cost analysis to estimate costs and savings associated with the intervention. We will use descriptive statistics to analyse quantitative data and a framework approach for qualitative data.Conclusion: This study, which focuses on the voices of patient advocates and practitioners, has the potential to shape future provision of this and similar services in WAST and other care providers. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
emergency medical services; end-of-life care; palliative care; pre-hospital care; primary health care |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This work is supported by a grant from the Health and Care Research Wales Research for Patient and Public Benefit programme (RfPPB) (reference: 1913). |
| Issue: |
3 |
| Start Page: |
1 |
| End Page: |
9 |