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In another study in the US, Eutis reported poor compliance with recommendations for universal precautions among prehospital providers. Inadequate knowledge and prevention of occupational exposure of HIV and AIDS among pre-hospital personnel was reported by Gellert et al. They recommended the introduction of additional education and training programs for pre-hospital emergency staff. Cydulka et al. assessed the knowledge base of 420 paramedics on knowledge of AIDS and hepatitis B after conducting an education seminar in a large metropolitan US fire department and reported an improvement. No study has, however, examined knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and transmission, or indeed infection control practices in general, in the Australian pre-hospital context. Infection control research to date has been discipline, context and location specific. This study sought to examine paramedics in an Australian setting in terms of regards to standards of infection control, specifically standard and additional precautions as defined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) [5] and paramedics’ knowledge of infectious diseases. This study used survey methodology to examine paramedic knowledge of infectious disease aetiology and transmission in an Australian EMS. All clinical staff personnel (n=2274) in one State-wide service were eligible to participate in the study. An anonymous survey consisting of thirty-seven questions was constructed in consultation with an infection control and ambulance expert-working group (EWG). The content was in accordance with the NHMRC [6] infection control standards. The survey format was designed in three sections. Section one of the survey focused on the collection of demographic data. Questions used to assess knowledge of infection control were grouped in section two, and addressed a variety of infection control areas as determined by the EWG. Assessments of reported infection control practices were grouped in section three. The survey tool, information sheet and consent form were piloted. As a result of the pilot testing, minor editorial changes were made to questions in order to enhance clarity. Ethics approval was obtained from Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
Surveys were sent to all eligible paramedic staff. The criterion for inclusion in this study was that the participant held a clinical or clinically related position, or a position that directly affected clinical outcomes of paramedic care.