The state of EMS education research project: characteristics of EMS educators.
OBJECTIVE
The preparation of emergency medicine practitioners occurs at a variety of levels, via individuals with various levels of experience and training, and through a variety of oversight organizations. The purpose of this study was to quantify the characteristics of those recognized as prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) educators, the type and amount of infrastructure available to facilitate the learning process, and what attributes and common practices the profession values.


METHODS
The respondents (n = 1,691) were generated randomly from a nationwide systematic sample of all known EMS instructors. The sample was adequate to generalize to the 15,000 EMS educators. Face validity and content validity were assured through use of a 24-member focus group of EMS educators, practitioners, and administrators, who reviewed the questionnaire. Reliability estimates were generated via Cronbach's alpha and Kuder-Richardson 20 and 21 and ranged from 0.59 to 0.83, with a grand mean for the seven study constructs of 0.70. Factor analysis with varimax rotation explained 40% to 66% of the respective construct variance, with a grand mean of 56% of the response variance explained.


RESULTS
The respondents were satisfied with their teaching experience (98%), expected to continue (80%), and taught because of a perceived dearth of qualified instructors. Only half of the respondents utilized federally generated curricular materials, and approximately 20% were uncomfortable in assessing psychomotor skills. The relationship of testing to assessment and skill performance appeared to be the most significant pedagogic challenge.


CONCLUSIONS
The respondents were a senior group of educators committed to the training of new providers who will comprise the foundation of future EMS educational efforts at the national level.
Ruple
Judith A
JA
College of Health and Human Services, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA. jruple@utoledo.edu
Frazer
Gregory H
GH
Hsieh
Arthur B
AB
Bake
William
W
Freel
Joann
J
D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005178:Faculty / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024382:Professional Role; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012952:Societies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data