Paramedics' behavior patterns when transferring non-mobile patients from the ground to a stretcher

Auteurs

Maïté Tanguay, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada
Jason Bouffard, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada
Jasmin Vallée-Marcotte, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada
Philippe Corbeil, Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS-CN), Quebec, G1V 0A6, QC, Canada

Type de document

Études primaires

Année de publication

2025

Langue

Anglais

Titre de la revue

Healthcare

Résumé

Background/Objectives: Transferring non-mobile patients from the ground to a stretcher represents one of the riskiest tasks for musculoskeletal disorders among emergency medical technicians–paramedics (EMT-Ps), but there is little information available on how they perform in real-life work situations. Methods: This study aimed to describe EMT-Ps’ patterns of behavior observed from field data and highlight safe work operations. A secondary analysis was conducted on 27 videos collected during EMT-Ps’ responses to live calls. Contextual variables (workspace and external assistance), operations during the preparation subtask (move patient or interfering objects and adjust stretcher’s height and position), and movements and postures related to the transfer subtask were extracted from the videos. Results: The results demonstrate that despite stratification based on similar contextual factors (equipment and limited workspace), EMT-Ps’ behavior varied between interventions during the preparation and transfer subtasks. Several operations to adjust the patient–stretcher configuration before the lifting phase were carried out to facilitate patient transfer, but these were not always optimal from a safety perspective. Strategies such as fast loading (1 out of 4) and the use of external assistance (6 out of 15) were beneficial in certain circumstances. Conclusions: EMT-Ps demonstrated their ability to analyze the situation, organize accordingly, and adapt their behavior by applying these safety skills.

Mots-clés

Ambulance, Charge physique, Physical workload, Sauveteur-secouriste, First-aid attendant, Transport de personnes, Transport of persons, Transport des blessés, Transport of the injuried

Numéro de projet IRSST

0099-8190

Citation recommandée

Tanguay, M., Bouffard, J., Vallée-Marcotte, J. et Corbeil, P. (2025). Paramedics' behaviour patterns when transferring non-mobile patients from the ground to a stretcher. Healthcare, 13(6), article 611. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13060611