STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTIONS OF INHERENT BARRIERS TO THE POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF ULTRASOUND IN THE PREHOSPITAL SETTING BETWEEN THE SAUDI RED CRESCENT AUTHORITY AND THE NATIONAL GUARD HOSPITAL

Abstract

This exploratory study was designed to illuminate both the obstacles and the opportunities inherent in the current medical emergency systems within the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in relation to the possible inclusion of ultrasound machines to assist both Saudi Red Crescent Authority professionals and emergency physicians in the hospital. The research explored the issue of implementing the ultrasound from the perspective of multiple institutions: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority and the National Guard Hospital. The research explored multiple healthcare professionals within both organizations including paramedics, EMTs, emergency doctors and Saudi Red Crescent station administrators. The purpose of this qualitative method study was focused on exploring the possibility to implement the ultrasound device in the ambulance by looking to the potential barriers that the Saudi Red Crescent might face in the implementation process and putting forth an action plan to overcome these barriers. The study was guided by the following research question: What do relevant stakeholders perceive as barriers to the potential introduction and effective use of prehospital ultrasound in the Saudi Red Crescent Authority? Twenty-four paramedics and EMTs as well as four station administrators from four different Saudi Red Crescent stations in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were included in study. The participants also included two emergency doctors within the National Guard Hospital. Paramedics and EMTs participants completed a survey via the survey monkey platform. In addition, the four stations administrators and the two emergency doctors were interviewed in person by the researcher. The researcher used a general interpretive process of close reading to develop themes from the qualitative data. The thematic coding revealed that the majority of the participants across all stakeholders agreed that cost, education and training were considered to be the main barriers of implementing the ultrasound in the Saudi Red Crescent Authority. The study concludes with an educational action plan based both on the findings and the application of the theoretical framework.