Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jan 27:27:1545.
doi: 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1545. eCollection 2021.

Prehospital care providers' understanding of responsibilities during a behavioural emergency

Charnelle Stander  1 , Peter Hodkinson  1 , Enrico Dippenaar  1
Affiliations

Prehospital care providers' understanding of responsibilities during a behavioural emergency

Charnelle Stander et al. S Afr J Psychiatr. .

Abstract

Background: Prehospital emergency care providers are frequently called to assist with the management of mental healthcare users (MHCUs). The Mental Health Care Act no. 17 of 2002 regulates mental healthcare in South Africa, but the act fails to consider the responsibilities of prehospital emergency care providers in the provision of mental healthcare. Rather South African Police Services were given authority over the well-being of a MHCU in the prehospital setting.

Aim: To investigate prehospital emergency care providers' understanding of their responsibilities towards MHCUs and the community during the management of behavioural emergencies.

Setting: The research was carried out at prehospital emergency care providers from the three main levels of care, currently operational within the boundaries of Pretoria, South Africa.

Methods: A grounded theory qualitative study design was chosen using semi-structured focus groups for each level of prehospital emergency care - basic life support (BLS), intermediate life support (ILS) and advanced life support (ALS). Data from each focus group were collected through audio recordings and transcribed and analysed using a framework approach.

Results: A total of 19 prehospital emergency care providers participated; two focus group interviews were performed for each level of care. The BLS focus groups each consisted of two participants. The ILS focus groups consisted of three participants each, and the ALS focus groups consisted of six and three participants. Four key themes were identified: perceptions of behavioural emergencies, responsibilities, understanding of legislation and barriers experienced.

Conclusion: Participants placed high value on their moral and medical responsibilities towards MHCUs, which they described as ensuring the safety of themselves, MHCUs and the community; preventing further harm; and transporting MHCUs to an appropriate healthcare facility. There was a desire for revision of legislation, better education, skill development and awareness of mental healthcare in the prehospital emergency care setting.

Keywords: behaviour; emergency; mental healthcare; prehospital; responsibility.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

References

    1. South African Government The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, South Africa [homepage on the Internet]. [cited 2019 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.gov.za/document?search_query=constitution&field_gcisdoc_doct...
    1. South African Government National Health Act no 61 of 2003, South Africa [homepage of the Internet]. [cited 2019 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.gov.za/document?search_query=constitution&field_gcisdoc_doct...
    1. South African Government Health Professions Act 56 of 1974, South Africa [homepage on the Internet]. [cited 2019 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.gov.za/document?search_query=constitution&field_gcisdoc_doct...
    1. South African Government Health Professions Act 56 of 1974. Regulations defining the scope of the profession of emergency care, 2002, South Africa [homepage on the internet]. [cited 2019 Mar 15]. Available from: https://www.gov.za/document?search_query=constitution&field_gcisdoc_doct...
    1. Health Profession Council of South Africa Advanced life support practitioner protocol [homepage on the Internet]. 2006. [cited 2019 Apr 10]. Available from: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Legislation/Rules

LinkOut - more resources