The object of the study was to identify the effect paramedics have on
prehospital trauma care and evaluate their influence on outcome compar
ed to that of ambulance technicians. A prospective review of ambulance
and hospital records was conducted over 2 years from 1 August 1993 to
31 July 1995. The setting for the study was the Royal Infirmary of Ed
inburgh and its primary response catchment area served by the South-Ea
st Region of the Scottish Ambulance Service central control room. The
study involved 1090 patients brought to hospital by ambulance who met
the entry criteria for the Scottish Trauma Audit Group study. The resu
lts show the paramedics spend significantly longer at scene than the a
mbulance technicians; however, there was no difference in total prehos
pital times between the groups. Paramedics direct a significantly high
er proportion of patients to the resuscitation room and significantly
more of these patients go to theatre, intensive care or the mortuary.
There is no reduction in mortality or length of stay in intensive care
in the paramedic group. The authors conclude that paramedics deliver
an improved process of care but their activities do not significantly
reduce mortality or length of stay in intensive care. (C) 1997 Elsevie
r Science Ltd. All right reserved.