Introducing Advanced Paramedics into the Rural General Practice Team in Ireland – General Practitioners Attitudes

Abstract

Introduction:

As Ireland's population increases and chronic disease becomes more prevalent, demand for limited general practice services will increase. Nursing roles within a general practice are now considered to be standard, yet alternative non-medical professional roles are under-explored within an Irish context. Non-medical personnel such as Advanced Paramedics (APs) may have the capability to provide support to general practice.

Method:

A sequential explanatory mixed methodology was adopted. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to a purposeful sample of GPs attending a rural conference followed by semi-structured interviews. Data was recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed.

Results:

In total n=27 GPs responded to the survey and n=13 GPs were interviewed. The majority of GPs were familiar with APs and were receptive to the concept of closely collaborating with APs within a variety of settings including out-of-hours services, home visits, nursing homes, and even roles within the general practice surgery.

Conclusion:

GP and AP clinical practice dovetail within many facets of primary care and emergency care. GPs believe that current models for providing rural general practice care are unsustainable, and they realize the potential of integrating APs into the general practice team to help support services into the future. These interviews provide a detailed insight into the opinions of rural general practitioners in Ireland on healthcare provision and the clear necessity for support and change.