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As you may know, the Standards of Practice set out the minimum standards in paramedic services. Each regulated member is required to understand and comply with these Standards, but how does this translate in the day-to-day work of EMRs, PCPs, and ACPS?
In an effort to help regulated members understand and apply the Standards to real life situations, we will be sharing scenarios that give context to the Standards and ideas on how to implement this into practice.
The following scenario will attempt to address human health research:
1.9 Human Health Research
A regulated member conducting research in human health must, when applicable:
- Comply with the Health Information Act including to submit a proposal for review by a research ethics board in the Province of Alberta.
- Disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest to the research ethics
- Obtain approval from a research ethics board before commencing human health research and comply with the requirements of the research ethics board as it relates to initial and ongoing review of the study.
- Ensure the welfare of any patient involved in the research study is the primary concern throughout the duration of the study.
- Inform participants that the study has been reviewed by an ethics board and disclose relevant conditions imposed.
Scenario:
Olivia is the Training Officer for an integrated fire service. Her department is presented with an opportunity to participate in a research study aimed at improving pre-hospital care for burn patients. Before agreeing to participate, Olivia thoroughly reviews the study protocol, ensuring that it aligns with ethical principles and is approved by an appropriate research ethics board.
Once satisfied with the ethical considerations, Olivia ensures that all members of her department understand that they need to obtain informed consent from patients or their legally authorized representatives before including them in the study. This involves providing clear explanations of the study’s purpose, procedures, risks and potential benefits in a manner that is easily understood by participants.
Throughout the study, Olivia ensures that the members of her department diligently follow the established research protocols, accurately documenting patient data and interventions according to specified guidelines. They maintain confidentiality and privacy at all times, ensuring that patient information is securely handled and anonymized for analysis.
As the study progresses, all members of the department remain vigilant for any adverse events or unforeseen complications, promptly reporting them to the research team and taking appropriate action to ensure patient safety.
Upon completion of the study, Olivia contributes to the dissemination of findings through presentations, publications, or other means, adhering to principles of academic integrity and transparency.
In this example, Olivia demonstrates adherence to Standard of Practice 1.9 by actively engaging in human health research with a commitment to ethical conduct, patient safety and the advancement of pre-hospital care practices.