Paramedic Research: Principles, Designs and Methods

Research is fundamental in generating evidence to inform best practice. Not only does it drive improvements in patient care, but it also fosters the ongoing advancement of a profession. As the paramedic profession grows, so does the need for robust research.

Paramedic Research: Principles, Designs and Methods harnesses the expertise of over 40 contributors, from across the UK and beyond, each offering a wealth of insight and experience. The result is a practical resource which guides you through the entirety of the research process, from identifying areas needing investigation and designing research questions to data collection, analysis and presenting your findings in a meaningful way.

Context is everything, so this book draws on examples of research undertaken in settings that are familiar to unplanned, urgent and emergency care staff. This allows you to focus on the essential elements of research philosophies, principles and constructs without needing to learn about new healthcare environments.

If you are hoping to master the transformative power of research within the prehospital and emergency care setting, understand its relevance and embrace it as an integral component of clinical practice, then this book is for you.

Julia Williams, PhD, PhD, PGCert ED, PG Cert; BSc (Hons), Dip HE FCPara.

Professor of Paramedic Science and Director of the Paramedic Clinical Research Unit (ParaCRU) at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. 

Julia, a registered paramedic and Professor of Paramedic Science at the University of Hertfordshire, has been involved in paramedic education and development since 1996. As Head of Research for the College of Paramedics, she actively promotes paramedics' contributions to clinical research and advocates for their involvement in health and care research studies. Julia has extensive experience with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research in paramedic practice, emergency and urgent care, paramedic education, and workforce wellbeing, both in the UK and overseas. She has led research in the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust since 2005 and is a member of the National Ambulance Research Steering Group (NARSG). Julia has served on multiple trial steering groups, funding panels, and committees. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the British Paramedic Journal and has mentored several paramedic PhD students. She firmly believes that a career in paramedic research is full of opportunities and exciting challenges, and hopes this book will be a valuable resource for everyone interested in research at all different levels.

Graham McClelland, PhD, FCPara.

Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow / Assistant Professor in Health, Dept. of Nursing, Midwifery & Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University

Honorary Research Fellow, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Visiting Clinical Researcher, Stroke Research Group, Newcastle University, Visiting Professor, School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire.

Graham is a registered paramedic and Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at Northumbria University. Graham joined the North East Ambulance Service in 2003 and worked in a variety of clinical roles until he started getting involved in research which took him down a different career path.

Graham is a pragmatic, applied healthcare researcher who has been involved in studies across the breadth of conditions encountered by paramedics, but his main focus has been on stroke. In addition to this Graham has served on the editorial board of the British Paramedic Journal since it was setup, is a reviewer for multiple journals and funding bodies and has been a member of both NHS and university ethics committees. Graham is privileged to be able to support, mentor and supervise paramedics from internships through to PhD students. He thinks this is an exciting time to be involved in prehospital and emergency care research and hopes that paramedic researchers will continue to seek ways to improve the care delivered to patients.