Abstract

This study aimed to identify whether paramedic students’ perceptions of patients who self-harm changed following an educational intervention.

Background: Self-harm is a major public health concern with an increasing number of incidents being reported in England.

Paramedics are often the first contact for those who self-harm and antipathy to these patients among caregivers, including paramedics, has been reported.

Negative attitudes to patients who self-harm from health professionals is a considerable barrier to their care.

Education on self-harm for paramedics has been historically inadequate, even though it can potentially improve attitudes and how these practitioners engage with those who self-harm.

Method: A pre- and post-survey analysis was undertaken to examine whether any identified unsympathetic perceptions of paramedic students (n=30) towards patients who self-harm would decrease following an educational intervention, using a validated questionnaire measuring attitudes to self-harm.

Results: Perceptions of people who self-harm were generally moderately negative prior to the educational intervention, with a significant drop in negative attitudes after it was completed.

A survey showed that this drop was also mostly sustained 10 months later.

Conclusion: Educational interventions may help to reduce negative perceptions of patients who self-harm in paramedic students.

Citations

Pras Ramluggun, Andrew Freeman-May, Gabby Barody, Nicholas Groom, Chloe Townsend. Changing paramedic students' perception of people who self-harm. Journal of Paramedic PracticeVol. 12, No. 10

Sponsorship: Supported by the NIHR; Cognitive Health Clinical Research Facility (CHCRF)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2020.12.10.403

URI: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/orka/title/changing-paramedic-students-perception-of-people-who-self-harm/