Significant others' perceptions of being taken seriously by the Swedish Ambulance Service when the patient is assessed as nonurgent

Abstract

Background: At least 50% of all ambulance assignments are deemed nonurgent, while 47-96% are initiated by someone other than the patient. Previous research has highlighted the importance of being taken seriously. However, additional knowledge of how significant others experience the situation when a patient is assessed as nonurgent is needed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the person-centred climate in the Ambulance Service from the perspective of significant others by means of the Person-centred Climate Questionnaire - Family version (PCQ-F), to psychometrically investigate the construct validity of additional items intended to measure perceptions of being taken seriously and to explore possible relationships between the person-centred climate and these additional items.

Methods: A retrospective, explorative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. In total, 241 questionnaires were distributed. Descriptive and comparative statistics and a factor analysis of eight items possibly constructing person-centredness are presented.

Results: The 100 respondents experienced the climate as very person-centred. Relationships were found between the items that might constitute person-centredness and the PCQ-F. The PCQ-F can explain perceived person-centredness through the additional items that may constitute person-centredness in the Ambulance Service context.

Conclusion: Significant others consider eight aspects of being taken seriously as the core of person-centredness in nonurgent Ambulance Service assignments. There is a relationship between the psychosocial climate and the additional items that might constitute person-centredness.

Keywords: EMS; ambulance service; next-of-kin; nonurgent; nursing; person-centred care; person-centredness; prehospital emergency care; significant other.