Paramedic management of patients experiencing mental health issues: a scoping review

Authors: Rolfe, U., Phillips, P. and Evans, A.

Journal: Journal of Paramedic Practice: the clinical monthly for emergency care professionals

Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare

ISSN: 1759-1376

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40364/

Source: Manual

Paramedic management of patients with mental health issues: a scoping review

Authors: Evans, A., Rolfe, U., Phillips, P. and Iannelli, H.

Journal: Journal of Paramedic Practice

Volume: 16

Issue: 10

Pages: 404-415

Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare

ISSN: 1759-1376

Abstract:

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of the Right Care, Right Person agreement, paramedics spend about 1.8m hours per year managing people with mental health issues. The UK health service needs to address the urgent training requirements for paramedics to provide mental healthcare and reduce this deficit in emergency care provision.

Aims: To identify and examine current research on paramedics manage people with mental health issues.

Methods: The five stages of Arkeys & O’Malley’s framework were implemented. A research question was developed, databases searched, studies identified, data charted, summarised and reported.

Findings: 15 of 2303 results were included, with five themes identified: Perceptions and expectations, call triage and interservice collaboration, communication skills, lack of education and training, and evidence-based interventions.

Conclusions: there is global evidence of the deficiencies in paramedic education around mental health presentations and a need for evidence-based education and interventions to improve patient outcomes.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/40364/

Source: BURO EPrints