Integrating a Solution Focussed Brief Therapy approach into paramedic practice

The project seeks to evaluate the integration of SFBT as a communication tool with patients in distress for undergraduate paramedic students. When dealing with patients with complex presentations such as mental health, paramedics use a variety of questions to assess and evaluate their presentation (Ross, 2009). The literature provides little guidance on the composition of the undergraduate curriculum, with the focus of previous research on empathy (Williams et al 2013; 2014) and the structure of clinical handovers (ISBAR) (Marshall et al 2009). Paramedic communication skills form part of the foundational social sciences curriculum which is viewed as enhancing student preparedness and prospective employer’s expectation of being ‘road ready’ (Willis et al 2010). As a therapeutic tool, Solution Focussed Brief Therapy (SFBT) has been used elsewhere (social work, family therapy) (de Shazer et al 2007), with some application in emergency departments (Wright et al 2014; Kondrat & Teater, 2012). However, the use of SFBT has yet to be fully explored in pre-hospital care care (Hawely et al 2011) but is argued that it has a role in pre-hospital care in being able to assist those with mental health presentations. Hawley et al (2011) do not offer suggestions on curriculum, implementation or evaluation.