Project information
Project manager
Ann-Therese Hedqvist
Other project members
Staffan Hammarbäck
Participating organisations
Linnaeus University, Region Kalmar County, Region Sörmland
Funder
Linnaeus University
Timetable
2026-01-01–2028-12-31
Subject
Caring Science (Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences)
Research group
Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration within Emergency care (CICE)
More about the project
Ambulance services constitute the first link in the emergency care chain, tasked with providing immediate medical care and support to individuals in crisis. This work is often conducted in unpredictable environments where both the patient’s condition and the surrounding circumstances can change rapidly. Due to the nature of the profession, personnel are occasionally exposed to threats and violence from patients, relatives, or other bystanders. Such incidents can lead to serious consequences for the health and well-being of the staff, including stress-related conditions, a diminished sense of safety, and increased sick leave.
The purpose of this research project is to describe issues related to threats, violence, and personal safety within the ambulance services from both employee and leadership perspectives. The project adopts a comprehensive approach through four complementary sub-studies combining qualitative and quantitative methods.
The first study describes critical incidents and how they were managed based on the personnel's own accounts. The second study deepens the understanding of staff experiences of these events through in-depth interviews. In the third sub-study, a quantitative mapping is conducted to identify prevalence, risk factors, and organizational conditions. Finally, the fourth study explores managers' perceptions of their responsibilities before, during, and after incidents occur.
There are currently significant knowledge gaps regarding how these situations are managed and which support structures are truly effective. By highlighting both individual and organizational levels, this project aims to generate knowledge that can serve as a basis for improved routines, training initiatives, and long-term strategies to strengthen personal safety within the ambulance services.
The project is part of the research in the Centre of Interprofessional Collaboration within Emergency care (CICE)
