“They’re very passionate about making sure that women stay healthy”: Women’s experiences participating in a community paramedicine program

Community paramedicine programs (i.e., physician-directed preventive care by emergency medical services personnel embedded in communities) offer a novel approach to community-based health care. Project Swaddle, a community paramedicine program for mothers and their infants, seeks to address (directly or through warm referrals) the physical, mental, social, and economic needs of its participants. The objective of this process evaluation was to describe women’s experiences in Project Swaddle. By understanding their experiences, our work begins to build the foundation for similar programs and future examinations of the efficacy and effectiveness of these approaches. We completed 21 interviews with women living in Indiana (July 2019 - February 2020) who were currently participating in or had graduated from Project Swaddle. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a six-phase approach to thematic analysis. Four emerging themes resulted: 1) Program enrollment was influenced by the community paramedics’ experience and connections; 2) Participating women view the community paramedics as a trusted provider who supplied necessary health information and support; 3) In their role as physician extenders, the community paramedics enhanced patient care through communication with other providers; 4) The program and its community paramedics connected participants to outside resources, which aimed to support their holistic health and wellbeing. The results of our process evaluation suggest Project Swaddle is a promising approach to improving the health and wellbeing of women and infants. Future outcome and impact evaluations are necessary to quantify the effect of Project Swaddle on its participants.

Download Full-text

“They’re very passionate about making sure that women stay healthy”: a qualitative examination of women’s experiences participating in a community paramedicine program

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-07192-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laura M. Schwab-Reese ◽

Lynette M. Renner ◽

Hannah King ◽

R. Paul Miller ◽

Darren Forman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Providers ◽

Primary Care Providers ◽

Holistic Health ◽

Care Providers ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Early Motherhood ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

Community Paramedicine ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Physician Extenders

Abstract Background Community paramedicine programs (i.e., physician-directed preventive care by emergency medical services personnel embedded in communities) offer a novel approach to community-based health care. Project Swaddle, a community paramedicine program for mothers and their infants, seeks to address (directly or through referrals) the physical, mental, social, and economic needs of its participants. The objective of this process evaluation was to describe women’s experiences in Project Swaddle. By understanding their experiences, our work begins to build the foundation for similar programs and future examinations of the efficacy and effectiveness of these approaches. Methods We completed 21 interviews with women living in Indiana (July 2019–February 2020) who were currently participating in or had graduated from Project Swaddle. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a six-phase approach to thematic analysis. Results Program enrollment was influenced by the community paramedics’ experience and connections, as well as information received in the community from related clinics or organizations. Participants viewed the community paramedic as a trusted provider who supplied necessary health information and support and served as their advocate. In their role as physician extenders, the community paramedics enhanced patient care through monitoring critical situations, facilitating communication with other providers, and supporting routine healthcare. Women noted how community paramedics connected them to outside resources (i.e., other experts, tangible goods), which aimed to support their holistic health and wellbeing. Conclusions Results demonstrate Project Swaddle helped women connect with other healthcare providers, including increased access to mental health services. The community paramedics were able to help women establish care with primary care providers and pediatricians, then facilitate communication with these providers. Women were supported through their early motherhood experience, received education on parenting and taking control of their health, and gained access to resources that met their diverse needs.

Download Full-text

Bringing diversity of experience into decision-making about surgery: developing an app for that

International Journal of Whole Person Care ◽

10.26443/ijwpc.v5i1.158 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ilja Ormel ◽

Susan Law ◽

Michel Lortie ◽

Charles Onu ◽

Donna Tataryn

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Decision Making ◽

Recommender System ◽

Specific Information ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Women’S Experiences ◽

Women's Experiences ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Wide Range ◽

Challenges And Opportunities

ObjectiveTo design and pilot a mobile application to support decision-making about surgery for breast cancer patients, drawing from a collection of narratives from a diverse sample of Canadian women that used video/audio recordings (published on www.healthexperiences.ca). BackgroundThis idea came from the results of a larger research project where we collected a wide range of women’s stories about having breast cancer using qualitative research methods and video/audio recording. The women we interviewed for this project said that they felt overwhelmed by the amount of information in the period between diagnosis and surgery, and at the same time they felt they needed more specific information relevant to their needs, personal situation and preferences. They also wanted to learn from other women’s experiences of surgery. This project therefore aims to develop an information tool that can respond to that need by offering information in a more personalized manner. This project is funded by the QBCF [Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation]. MethodsSecondary analysis of existing data. Development of recommender system. Design and evaluation involving patients, clinicians and informatics experts. ResultsWe will present our analysis regarding women’s experiences related to surgery, decision-making, preferences and expectations, and need for experiential information. We will then present the development to date of a personalized information application using a computerized recommender system, including a summary of challenges and opportunities encountered along the way. ConclusionDeveloping reliable, evidence-based tools and electronic applications based on other peoples’ experiences offers a novel approach to support informed healthcare decision-making.

Download Full-text