Nutbeam T, Brandling J, Wallis L, Stassen W.
What we did:
We recruited patients via the Devon Air Ambulance and the spinal injury charity Aspire. All of the patients had been extricated following a motor vehicle collision. The patients who were recruited by Aspire had spinal cord injuries.
An expert qualitative interviewer and psychotherapist interviewed each of the participants.
Themes from the interviews were collated and patient priorities identified.
What we found:
Extrication experience was improved by positive communication, companionship, explanations and planned post-incident follow- up. Extrication experience was negatively affected by failures in communication, loss of autonomy, unmanaged pain, delayed communication with remote family and onlooker use of social media.
What this means:
Recommendations are made which will support a positive patient centred extrication experience.
In summary:
The trapped patient experience can be improved through positive communication, companionship, explanation and post-incident follow up. Steps should be taken to manage pain, avoid onlooker photographs / filming and support communication with family members.