Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Ambulance Clinicians' Experiences of Attending OHCA in Children

This research explores how ambulance crews in the UK respond when a child's heart stops beating outside of a hospital, a rare but critical emergency. Many clinicians might only see such a case once in their career, making it very stressful and technically challenging. The study gathers information from patient records, surveys ambulance staff across the UK, and interviews those who have attended these incidents. The goal is to understand current practices and clinicians' experiences. By doing this, the researchers hope to suggest better ways to care for children in these emergencies and provide more support to the ambulance staff involved.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

University of Warwick

Enrolment target

2,137

Start

01 May 2025

Estimated completion

01 Jan 2027

Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest

What is this study about?

Imagine a child's heart suddenly stops beating outside a hospital – this is called an 'out of hospital cardiac arrest' (OHCA). It's a very serious emergency where every second counts to help the child survive. Luckily, it's quite rare for children, but when it happens, it's incredibly important that paramedics and other ambulance staff know exactly how to help.

Because these events are so rare, many ambulance clinicians might only experience a child's OHCA once, or even never. This makes it a very difficult and stressful situation for them, and they might not feel fully prepared. This research wants to understand what currently happens in these situations, and what ambulance staff think and feel about attending such emergencies. The study looks at past patient records and talks to ambulance staff across the UK to gather their experiences.

By learning from what's currently being done and from the frontline experiences of ambulance staff, the researchers hope to find better ways to respond to these emergencies. Their aim is to make recommendations that not only improve the care children receive but also ensure that ambulance clinicians get the best possible training and support when dealing with these tough situations.

Key takeaways

Understanding ambulance experiences with rare child cardiac arrests.
Aims to improve critical care for children outside hospital.
Will look at patient records and gather views from ambulance staff.
Findings could lead to better training and support for clinicians.
Focuses on UK ambulance services.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking at information about children under 18 who had an out of hospital cardiac arrest and were treated by the London Ambulance Service between January 2021 and December 2024. This includes cases where ambulance staff recognised the cardiac arrest themselves. However, newborn babies who hadn't taken their first breath before their heart stopped, or incidents outside of Greater London, won't be included.

The study also includes ambulance staff across the UK. To take part in a survey, you need to be an ambulance clinician (including paramedics and other staff) who responds to 999 calls and would be expected to attend a child's cardiac arrest as part of your job. You also need to agree to take part.

For interviews, they are looking for ambulance clinicians who work for an NHS Ambulance Service and have attended a child's cardiac arrest (aged over 1 day but under 18 years) in the last 12 months. However, if you're a specialist in critical care, have already been interviewed for this study, or attended a child's cardiac arrest very recently (within two weeks of the interview), you won't be eligible for an interview.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you an ambulance clinician in the UK?
Do you respond to 999 calls?
Would you be expected to attend a child's cardiac arrest?
Have you attended a child's cardiac arrest in the last year (for interviews)?
Are you able to provide your consent to take part?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you're an ambulance clinician, taking part in this study could involve two main things. Firstly, you might complete an online survey. This survey will ask about your attitudes and feelings regarding being prepared for child cardiac arrests, and if you've had experience with such incidents. It will involve answering specific questions and some open-ended ones where you can write your own thoughts.

Secondly, some ambulance clinicians might be asked to take part in an interview or a group discussion. These interviews would involve talking about your experiences attending a child's cardiac arrest. The researchers want to learn from what you've been through. These interviews would be a chance for you to share your insights in a confidential setting. The study also looks at anonymised patient records, which means individual patients won't be identified.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no direct medical benefits or risks to patients whose records are being reviewed, as this part of the study uses already collected information. For ambulance staff taking part in surveys or interviews, there's a chance that discussing past stressful events might bring up difficult emotions. However, the study aims to improve support for clinicians in the future, which could benefit many. Please remember, taking part is completely voluntary, and you are free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Warwick
Verified postcode
Coventry, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is an 'Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest'?

It's when a person's heart stops beating unexpectedly outside of a hospital setting, needing immediate medical help.

Why is this research important for children?

Because child cardiac arrests are rare, this study helps us understand how to improve care and support for both the children and the ambulance staff who treat them.

Will my personal details be shared?

No, if patient records are used, all personal details will be removed so that individuals cannot be identified. Your responses in surveys/interviews will also be kept private.

Who is conducting this research?

This research is being carried out by a research team, focusing on the experiences of ambulance clinicians.

How long will the study last?

The study involves reviewing records from a four-year period and includes surveys and interviews, but your direct participation, if any, would be for a shorter, defined period.

How to find out more

Adam Mellett-Smith, MSc

pohca-phd@warwick.ac.uk +447386665042 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.