Clinical Feedback in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Education: Identifying and resolving the training needs of clinical supervisors in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Clinical supervision and feedback are crucial in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) education, as they play a significant role in enhancing the competence and professional growth of EMS students . Supporting and addressing the training needs of supervisors is essential to ensuring they can provide effective feedback and guidance. However, there is no existing literature on the specific training needs of EMS supervisors in the unique cultural context of Saudi Arabia, highlighting the need for focused research in this area. Grounded in the Clinical Performance Feedback Intervention Theory (CP-FIT), the research navigated through a comprehensive examination of clinical feedback’s perceptions, challenges, and training needs from the perspectives of both EMS students and clinical supervisors. The thesis begins with a scoping review, finding that only twelve studies specifically targeted clinical feedback in EMS education over the past two decades, highlighting its importance but also underscoring gaps in the literature. Notably, existing studies fail to explore the perceptions of clinical feedback between students and supervisors and largely focus on the general context of clinical placements, thus diluting the potential insights into feedback’s effectiveness, challenges, and impact on learning and performance. Furthermore, it notes a lack of research in EMS education, especially within Saudi Arabia. To address these gaps, the thesis delves into the perceptions of EMS students and clinical supervisors in Saudi Arabia, thereby filling a regional research void. It investigates the specific challenges in feedback provision and receipt, emphasising the training needs of supervisors, including effective communication, personalised feedback, constructive methods, emotional intelligence, feedback follow-up, technology use, understanding feedback differences, and promoting a positive feedback environment. Furthermore, the thesis employs a Delphi study to consolidate expert consensus on the best approaches to address identified challenges and needs in clinical feedback, including the particular training needs of clinical supervisors. The findings highlight the need for a structured feedback approach that considers the diverse needs and perceptions of both students and supervisors. The thesis proposes a comprehensive strategy, including tailored training programmes and quality assurance and ongoing support, to improve clinical feedback standards. This strategy aims to bridge perceptual gaps, and to foster the students’ learning and professional growth.