Recent research studies

The EEAST feasibility study, KARMA2, evaluated the use of blood ketone meters by ambulance clinicians to determine whether could reliably and safely identify diabetic ketoacidosis and start fluid therapy, and determine whether a full-scale clinical trial is warranted.

The findings have now been published in Diabetic Medicine: KARMA2

The key aims of the CESSATION study were to identify current menopause guidance, policies and support offered by UK ambulance services; understand work and personal impacts of the menopause on female ambulance staff and their managers; and identify service developments that may best support female ambulance staff during this life phase.

Two CESSATION papers have now been published: CESSATION - Interviews, CESSATION - National Survey.

The STRETCHED research study (STRategies to manage Emergency ambulance Telephone Callers with sustained High needs) evaluated the care given to people who make high use of emergency ambulance services.

The findings of STRETCHED have now been published: STRETCHED

The aims of the TRIM study were to describe volume and pattern of calls to emergency ambulance services, proportion of calls where an ambulance was dispatched, proportion conveyed to hospital, and features of triage used during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

The first findings of this study can be found: TRIM

The main aims of the Factors impacting vitamin D in ambulance staff study (EVOLVED) were to explore the behaviours and lifestyle factors of ambulance staff in relation to their vitamin D levels (following the service screening evaluation, VITALS). 40 EEAST staff took part in a research interview, with their service roles including control room (n=9), operational delivery (n=20) and service support (n=11).

Five themes were identified: Reaction to VITALS result; diet; deficiency symptoms and impacts; impact of work on maintaining adequate vitamin D levels; and personal activity levels. A lack of awareness of vitamin D-related issues was identified. Various improvement suggestions were shared, which included raising staff awareness of the importance of vitamin D, to allow staff to take responsibility to promote their own health and wellbeing. Strategies to promote awareness of vitamin D should be considered to improve staff wellbeing in this area. EVOLVED participants positively perceived this research exploring staff health and wellbeing, highlighting this as an area for future research.

Further information about EVOLVED can be found via https://emj.bmj.com/content/41/Suppl_3/A10.1

A hip fracture is an exceedingly painful injury and pain relief given by a paramedic usually includes morphine. This may not always work very well and can lead to side effects, such as confusion. In the RAPID2 study, paramedics may give a local anaesthetic injection (known as fascia iliaca compartment block or FICB) to patients with an injured hip before they are transported to hospital. Giving this injection may provide better pain control and better long-term outcomes than the alternatives currently in use.

The aim of RAPID2 is to test the safety, and effectiveness of paramedics providing FICB pain relief to patients with suspected hip fracture prior to hospitalisation.

The RAPID2 study has now closed in EEAST but more information can be found on the study website: https://rapid2trial.wordpress.com