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The State of Leadership Education in Emergency Medical Services: A Multi-national Qualitative Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2014

William Joseph Leggio Jr.*
Affiliation:
Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services of King Saud University in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
*
Correspondence: William Joseph Leggio, Jr., EdD Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services King Saud University P.O. Box 2454 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 11451 E-mail wleggio@ksu.edu.sa

Abstract

Objective

This study investigated how leadership is learned in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from a multi-national perspective by interviewing EMS providers from multiple nations working in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A phenomenological, qualitative methodology was developed and 19 EMS providers from multiple nations were interviewed in June 2013. Interview questions focused on how participants learned EMS leadership as an EMS student and throughout their careers as providers. Data were analyzed to identify themes, patterns, and codes to be used for final analysis to describe findings.

Results

Emergency Medical Services leadership is primarily learned from informal mentoring and on-the-job training in less than supportive environments. Participants described learning EMS leadership during their EMS education. A triangulation of EMS educational resources yielded limited results beyond being a leader of patient care. The only course that yielded results from triangulation was EMS Management. The need to develop EMS leadership courses was supported by the findings. Findings also supported the need to include leadership education as part of continuing medical education and training.

Conclusion

Emergency Medical Services leadership education that prepares students for the complexities of the profession is needed. Likewise, the need for EMS leadership education and training to be part of continuing education is supported. Both are viewed as a way to advance the EMS profession. A need for further research on the topic of EMS leadership is recognized, and supported, with a call for action on suggested topics identified within the study.

LeggioWJJr. The State of Leadership Education in Emergency Medical Services: A Multi-national Qualitative Study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(5):1-6.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2014 

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