Paramedics developing rapport with the elderly: a pilot study
Abstract
Objective:
The objective of this study was to investigate whether paramedic students’ active engagement with elderly patients would enhance their ability to develop rapport with elderly patients and what impact guided self-reflection would have on this.
Methods:
This pilot study utilised mixed methodology incorporating an interventional study design with focus groups. Paramedic students from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia participated in an engagement activity with independently living elderly residents. The Rapport Questionnaire (RQ) and focus groups were used to evaluate the project.
Results:
Eleven undergraduate paramedics participated (
Conclusion:
Student's recorded improved confidence, empathy and overall ability to build rapport with the elderly through this engagement activity. In addition, students who receive guided self-reflection displayed greater improvements in the above three areas than their control counterparts. The results were substantial and warrant further research in this area.
Establishing rapport is said to be central to any health professional-patient encounter (Leach, 2005). Paramedics operate in highly charged, unpredictable and emotionally driven environments on a daily basis where well-developed interpersonal communication skills are imperative and allow paramedics to establish a relationship or rapport with patients. O'Toole (2008) defined rapport as the development of a therapeutic relationship based on mutual understanding (respect, empathy and trust). Developing a positive relationship with a patient enables the health practitioner to elicit pertinent information and make informed clinical decisions about their treatment and on-going care (Barnett, 2001). However, rapport is more than that. It promotes communication, collaboration, and a shared understanding of the patient's perspective (Norfolk et al, 2007). It also requires much more than good intentions and is developed by the words and actions of the individuals involved (Rosenzweig, 1993). Much of the health care literature describes the importance of establishing rapport early in the patient encounter (Leach, 2005); however, it should be remembered that rapport is dynamic and complex threading through the entire course of the patient encounter (Arnold and Boggs, 2010).
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