This study does not investigate a specific disease but focuses on the application of diagnostic procedures in prehospital emergency care. It explores paramedics’ attitudes toward independently performing ultrasound examinations and the current implementation status of this technique in ground-based emergency medical services.
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: This study involves a one-time, anonymised online survey among paramedics (Notfallsanitäter:innen) in Germany. The aim is to assess their attitudes toward independently performing point-of-ca
Sponsors
HSD Hochschule Döpfer - University of Applied Sciences
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Completed vocational training as a paramedic (Notfallsanitäter:in) in accordance with the German Paramedic Act (NotSanG) Current employment in ground-based emergency medical services in Germany Regular assignment to an ambulance (Rettungstransportwagen, RTW)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Other qualifications in emergency services (e.g., emergency medical technician or paramedic assistant) Exclusive work on physician-staffed emergency vehicles (e.g., emergency physician car, intensive care transport vehicle, air ambulance) Employment outside of Germany
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Participants’ agreement with independently performing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the prehospital emergency setting by paramedics (Notfallsanitäter:innen). Assessment time point: One-time data collection during the online survey (T1); no follow-up measurements. Assessment method: Standardized online questionnaire developed specifically for this study with closed items for agreement, including a seven-point Likert scale. The questionnaire development is part of this project. The questionnaire development is based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (Venkatesh et al., 2003) and a comparable survey from nursing research (Krüger et al., 2025). The instrument is being developed with a focus on the use of ultrasound by paramedics. Additional exploratory measures: Attendance of ultrasound training courses Frequency of POCUS use in practice Availability of ultrasound equipment Correlation between years of experience and approval Source: Krüger, L., Rothaug, O., Dubb, R., & Nydahl, P. (2025). Führen Pflegefachpersonen in Deutschland Sonographien durch? Eine Befragung. Medizinische Klinik - Intensivmedizin Und Notfallmedizin. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00063-025-01269-6 Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis. (2003). User Acceptance of Information Technology: Toward a Unified View. MIS Quarterly, 27(3), 425. https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540 | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactThomas Hofmann
HSD Hochschule Döpfer University of Applied Sciences
Outcome results
None listed