AlanA team led by Tania Johnston (which I was a member of) have just had a paper related to intranasal ketamine for PCPs published in Paramedicine. Tania led this large-scale project over the past few years, and it is great to see this contribution make it to publication. Well done Tania and team!
You can download the published version below.
Abstract
Introduction: British Columbia Emergency Health Service (BCEHS) trialed the use of intranasal (IN) ketamine given by Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs). Prior to this practice change, the PCPs had not performed weight-based drug calculations, given medications intranasally, nor been responsible for controlled and targeted substances. This study aimed to use the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) model and Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF) to identify enablers and barriers to implementing intranasal paramedic administered ketamine analgesia (iPAKA) for PCPs. Methods: This was a parallel convergent mixed methods study with two phases. The quantitative phase consisted of longitudinal staff surveys to assess PCP knowledge and perceptions of ketamine and Controlled and Targeted Substances (CTS) policies. The qualitative phase involved staff focus groups on program implementation. Descriptive statistics of survey results were integrated with coded focus group data and analysed using the COM-B model and TDF. Evidence based behavioural change techniques were mapped to each TDF domain. Findings: Our analysis revealed barriers and enablers across several TDF domains. Implementing ketamine was enabled by quality education, strong organisational support, and the availability of cognitive aides. Trial success was attributed in part to participant’s feelings of optimism and their increased job satisfaction. Key barriers included a knowledge gap involving drug dosage calculations, negative emotions associated with performance anxiety, and a lack of field education and supervision to monitor paramedic practice. Conclusion: The use of theoretical frameworks and models like COM-B/TDF serves to improve the sustainable implementation of behaviour and clinical practice change in paramedicine. When project teams use theory to guide design and implementation, they can systematically identify and target individual and organisational enablers and barriers to adopting routine practices. The iPAKA study revealed key barriers and facilitators in several TDF domains and presents theory-linked targeted behaviour techniques to support ongoing implementation of PCP-administered IN ketamine for analgesia.