Collaborative practices in unscheduled emergency care: role and impact of the emergency care practitioner--quantitative findings.
OBJECTIVE
To identify collaborative instances and hindrances and to produce a model of collaborative practice.


METHODS
A 12 month (2005-6) mixed methods clinical case study in a large UK ambulance trust. Collaboration was measured through direct observational ratings of communication skills, teamwork and leadership with 24 multiprofessional emergency care practitioners (ECPs); interviews with 45 ECPs and stakeholders; and an audit of 611 patients.


RESULTS
Quantitative observational ratings indicated that the higher the leadership rating the greater the communication ability (p < or = 0.001) and teamwork (p < or = 0.001), and the higher grade ECPs were rated more highly on their leadership performance. From the patient audit, influences and outputs of collaborative practice are revealed: mean time on scene was 47 mins; 62% were not conveyed; 38% were referred, mainly to accident and emergency; ECPs claimed to make the referral decision in 87% of cases with a successful referral in 96% of cases; and in 66% of cases ECPs claimed that their intervention prevented an acute trust admission. The qualitative interview findings, final collaborative model and recommendations are reported in another paper.


CONCLUSIONS
The collaborative performance of ECPs varies, but the ECPs' role does appear to have an impact on collaborative practices and patient care. Final recommendations are reported with the qualitative results elsewhere.
Cooper
Simon
S
Faculty of Health and Social Work, C503 Portland Square, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK. simon.cooper@plymouth.ac.uk
O'Carroll
Judith
J
Jenkin
Annie
A
Badger
Beryl
B
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom
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