Research is fundamental in generating evidence to inform best practice. Not only does it drive improvements in patient care, but it also fosters the ongoing advancement of a profession. As the paramedic profession grows, so does the need for robust research.
Paramedic Research: Principles, Designs and Methods harnesses the expertise of over 40 contributors, from across the UK and beyond, each offering a wealth of insight and experience. The result is a practical resource which guides you through the entirety of the research process, from identifying areas needing investigation and designing research questions to data collection, analysis and presenting your findings in a meaningful way.
Context is everything, so this book draws on examples of research undertaken in settings that are familiar to unplanned, urgent and emergency care staff. This allows you to focus on the essential elements of research philosophies, principles and constructs without needing to learn about new healthcare environments.
If you are hoping to master the transformative power of research within the prehospital and emergency care setting, understand its relevance and embrace it as an integral component of clinical practice, then this book is for you.
Arvustused
A rich and sophisticated resource for contemporary paramedic research, each page is infused with the experiences of its impressive authorship who strike the balance well between theoretical concepts and their practical application.
Professor Nigel Rees Paramedic, Assistant Director Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust and Honorary Professor Warwick University Medical School
SECTION 1
1 Introduction: paramedic research: whats it all about?
Julia Williams and Graham McClelland
2 Why do we need evidence-based practice?
Jamie Scott and Karl Bloomer
3 Making sense of the research process
Kristy Sanderson and Larissa Prothero
4 Clinical audit, quality improvement, service evaluation and innovation:
what are they?
Duncan Robertson and Mary Peters
5 Research paradigms
Cheryl Cameron, Adam Greene and Alan M. Batt
6 The role of existing literature in research: searching, retrieving and
evaluation
William Broughton and Ian Maconochie
7 Developing research questions: avoiding the so what factor
Scott Devenish and Julia Williams
SECTION 2
8 Quantitative research design
Helen Snooks and Christopher Stein
9 Data collection in observational studies
Tim Edwards and Jack Barrett
10 Data collection in experimental studies
Ruth Fisher and Elicia Austin
11 Making sense of quantitative data
John Talbot, Hayley Stagg and Anthony Herbland
12 Qualitative research design
Georgina Murphy-Jones and Joel Symonds
13 Qualitative data collection
Mike Brady and Enrico Dippenaar
14 Making sense of qualitative data
Ursula Rolfe and Alison Porter
15 Mixed methods research design
Gregory A. Whitley and Scott Munro
SECTION 3
16 Ethics and governance in research
Georgette Eaton and Helen Pocock
17 Involving service users in research
Sarah Black and Karl Charlton
18 Health economics: its role in health research
Jamie Miles and Peter McMeekin
19 Sharing research findings
James Yates and Peter Gregory
20 Developing a successful research proposal
Janette Turner and Andy Newton
21 Obtaining research funding: hints and tips
Graham McClelland and Fiona Bell
22 Research careers for paramedics
Kim Kirby and Graham McClelland
23 Conclusion: next steps
Graham McClelland and Julia Williams
Julia Williams, PhD, PhD, PGCert ED, PG Cert; BSc (Hons), Dip HE FCPara.
Professor of Paramedic Science and Director of the Paramedic Clinical Research Unit (ParaCRU) at the University of Hertfordshire, UK.
Julia, a registered paramedic and Professor of Paramedic Science at the University of Hertfordshire, has been involved in paramedic education and development since 1996. As Head of Research for the College of Paramedics, she actively promotes paramedics' contributions to clinical research and advocates for their involvement in health and care research studies. Julia has extensive experience with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research in paramedic practice, emergency and urgent care, paramedic education, and workforce wellbeing, both in the UK and overseas. She has led research in the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust since 2005 and is a member of the National Ambulance Research Steering Group (NARSG). Julia has served on multiple trial steering groups, funding panels, and committees. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the British Paramedic Journal and has mentored several paramedic PhD students. She firmly believes that a career in paramedic research is full of opportunities and exciting challenges, and hopes this book will be a valuable resource for everyone interested in research at all different levels.
Graham McClelland, PhD, FCPara.
Vice-Chancellors Fellow / Assistant Professor in Health, Dept. of Nursing, Midwifery & Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University
Honorary Research Fellow, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Visiting Clinical Researcher, Stroke Research Group, Newcastle University, Visiting Professor, School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire.
Graham is a registered paramedic and Vice Chancellors Fellow at Northumbria University. Graham joined the North East Ambulance Service in 2003 and worked in a variety of clinical roles until he started getting involved in research which took him down a different career path.
Graham is a pragmatic, applied healthcare researcher who has been involved in studies across the breadth of conditions encountered by paramedics, but his main focus has been on stroke. In addition to this Graham has served on the editorial board of the British Paramedic Journal since it was setup, is a reviewer for multiple journals and funding bodies and has been a member of both NHS and university ethics committees. Graham is privileged to be able to support, mentor and supervise paramedics from internships through to PhD students. He thinks this is an exciting time to be involved in prehospital and emergency care research and hopes that paramedic researchers will continue to seek ways to improve the care delivered to patients.
