Anthony Weber

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Adapting to a new reality: COVID-19 coronavirus and online education in the health professions

Rural and Remote Health, 2020

The current novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has effected a significant change in the way industry-ba... more

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Pedagogical foundations to online lectures in health professions education

Rural and remote health, 2020

Professional and tertiary health professions education (HPE) has been markedly challenged by the ... more Professional and tertiary health professions education (HPE) has been markedly challenged by the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Mandates for training organisations to reduce social contact during the global pandemic, and make learning available online, provide an opportunity for regional, rural and remote clinicians and students to more easily access learning and professional development opportunities. Online lectures, while posing an opportunity for regional, rural and remote HPE, entail potential risks. Educators who are familiar with face-to-face pedagogies may find a transition to remote, digital interaction unfamiliar, disarming, and therefore they may not design maximally engaging lectures. The strategies used in a face-to-face lecture cannot be directly transferred into the online environment. This article proposes strategies to ensure the ongoing effectiveness, efficiency and engagement of lectures transitioning from face-to-face to online delivery. Cognitive learning...

PhD: Australasian Paramedic Higher Education: a critical study of higher education qualifications that prepares students to be job capable and allowing for a smooth and adaptive transition into an ever evolving, rapidly changing prehospital care system

Over the past 20 years paramedic education has undergone a transitional shift from vocational edu... more Over the past 20 years paramedic education has undergone a transitional shift from vocational education into higher education. Despite the progress of paramedic education and standardised professional competency standards set out by an accreditation body, diversity of paramedic curriculum exists; such diversity potentially results in different transitions to employment and consequently the ability to practise as a competent paramedic. The aim of the proposed thesis is to review a curriculum framework based on best practise curriculum design that has teaching and learning components that prepare students for current and future practise. The collaborative approach to the recommended components of this framework is to be considered across higher education institutions to prepare paramedic students to become independent and competent practitioners that are able to adapt to the rapidly changing evolution of paramedic practise. The thesis will involve systematic reviews of the literature,...

Frameworks that guide curriculum development in Australian higher education

Journal of Paramedic Practice, 2021

Background: In Australia, accrediting body competencies reflect paramedic professional practice r... more

Commentary: pedagogical foundations to online lectures in health professions education

Rural and Remote Health, 2020

Professional and tertiary health professions education (HPE) has been markedly challenged by the ... more Professional and tertiary health professions education (HPE) has been markedly challenged by the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Mandates for training organisations to reduce social contact during the global pandemic, and make learning available online, provide an opportunity for regional, rural and remote clinicians and students to more easily access learning and professional development opportunities Online lectures, while posing an opportunity for regional, rural and remote HPE, entail potential risks Educators who are familiar with face-to-face pedagogies may find a transition to remote, digital interaction unfamiliar, disarming, and therefore they may not design maximally engaging lectures The strategies used in a face-to-face lecture cannot be directly transferred into the online environment This article proposes strategies to ensure the ongoing effectiveness, efficiency and engagement of lectures transitioning from face-to-face to online delivery Cognitive learning theor...

Motivating factors influencing student paramedic choice of paramedicine as a career

Australasian Journal of Paramedicine

Introduction This study aimed to identify and assess the factors, motivations and influences on u... more Introduction This study aimed to identify and assess the factors, motivations and influences on undergraduate students’ choice of paramedicine for their studies and ultimately a career in paramedicine. Methods A survey was available to 205 first-year Bachelor of Paramedic Science students to assess background, motivational factors and influences on choosing their undergraduate studies. Results The response rate to an online survey distributed to 205 students yielded an almost 25% response rate (n=51). Altruistic factors were the main reason students chose to study for a degree in paramedic science and ultimately a career in paramedicine. Although essential, extrinsic, sociodemographic and interpersonal factors were less motivating factors. Despite other research suggesting media coverage leads to increased student enrolments, the media coverage of paramedics as frontline health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ‘lights and sirens’ effect of ambulance/paramedic reali...

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A Preliminary Assessment of Contamination of Emergency Service Helicopters with MRSA and Multi-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Emergency Medicine: Open Access

Objective: To detect the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multi... more Objective: To detect the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multi-resistant S. aureus (Multi-RSA) in emergency service helicopters. Methods: This proof-of-concept study used a convenience sample of two emergency service helicopters located in different Australian towns. Over a three-month period ending January 31 2015, within each helicopter five areas of perceived high contact were sampled by taking swabs on an approximately weekly basis. The precise occasions varied based on timings of cases and maintenance schedules. Swabs were analysed for the presence of MRSA, Multi-RSA and other bacteria. Results: Presumptive MRSA and other colonies were recovered from each helicopter. Of those presumptive colonies tested, 18.7% were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, 76.0% were other staphylococci (such as S. epidermidis), and 5.3% were other genera of bacteria. Further testing of these colonies detected no MRSA or Multi-RSA. Over the period of this study, high total numbers of bacteria were recovered in both helicopters. Typically, the floor of the helicopters had higher counts than the seat belts and the blood pressure cuff containers, whereas the radio and cardiac equipment had comparatively lower counts.

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Escape rooms in paramedic education

Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 2021

Introduction Even with paramedicine's evolution, clinical decision-making will always be a cr... more Introduction Even with paramedicine's evolution, clinical decision-making will always be a crucial learning and teaching requirement. As part of their learning, paramedic students need to develop critical thinking and collaborative approaches with others. The aim was to review the literature around escape room activity as a pedagogical approach for paramedic education. The intent is to contribute to the discussion around authentic and engaging approaches to teaching clinical thinking and decision making in paramedicine. Methods A systematic review was undertaken to review existing literature on using this approach in higher education. EBSCO, Medline, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, ProQuest and PubMed were used to review paramedic and health education strategies using a list of keywords. Results There were 23 scholarly papers examining the use of escape rooms in an educational context found. There was no reference to using this teaching methodology in paramedicine, but some health contex...

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Development and validation of the theory of planned behaviour questionnaire on student paramedics’ belief of case-based learning

Australasian Journal of Paramedicine

BackgroundThe use of case-based learning (CBL) in the paramedic curriculum has been reported to b... more BackgroundThe use of case-based learning (CBL) in the paramedic curriculum has been reported to be a valuable learning tool. Despite this, the use of CBL in distance or online education is not well researched, in particular, identifying the motivation for students to use CBL using a theoretical approach to eliciting and reviewing student paramedics’ beliefs. AimsThis study aimed to explore the wide range of students' beliefs when it comes to CBL (elicitation of beliefs) and to develop a tool for assessing beliefs in the setting of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (development of an assessment instrument).MethodsA sequential exploratory study design was used to explore the methodological challenges associated with eliciting beliefs and forming reliable belief scales. The standard components of developing a questionnaire in the context of the theory of planned behaviour were undertaken. Finally, a cross-sectional non-experimental survey design was used to determine the capabi...

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Teaching psychomotor skills online: exploring the implications of novel coronavirus on health professions education

Rural and Remote Health

Practical approaches to pedagogically rich online tutorials in health professions education

Rural and Remote Health

Infection control protocols: is it time to clean up our act?

Australasian Journal of Paramedicine

While paramedics in Australia respond to many call-outs daily, little is known of the risks of in... more While paramedics in Australia respond to many call-outs daily, little is known of the risks of infectious disease transmission that may arise from contamination of vehicles, equipment, personnel and/or patients. We examine what is currently known of the current risks in Australia posed by contamination of emergency service vehicles by antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms.

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Knowledge of Morphine Administration by Ambulance Paramedics: A Comparison of Two Clinical Levels of Paramedics

Open Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify any differences in adherence to morphine admi... more Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify any differences in adherence to morphine administration protocols between two clinical levels of paramedics within one emergency medical system in Australia. Methods: The participants were made up of 63 Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs) who were trained in basic and intermediate life support and 45 Intensive Care Paramedics (ICPs) who were trained in advanced life support skills; all were operational and practicing paramedics qualified in morphine administration. Participants were required to complete a survey designed to assess their knowledge of morphine drug therapy protocol (DTP). The survey involved two sections: 1) demographics, and 2) questions related to two scenario-based cases. Scenario one was a cardiac case and scenario two was a pediatric case. Results: In scenario one, more intensive care paramedics administered the correct dose than the advanced care paramedics (25.4% vs. 4.4%; df = 101, P = 0.002); scenario two showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (35.5% vs. 31.6%; df = 97, P = 0.3). Conclusion: The comparison of the two levels of paramedics and their adherence to drug protocols identified that ICPs had a higher rate than ACPs for adherence to morphine administration protocols for patients suffering cardiac related chest pain. The clinical differences may be based on the length of the opioid-administration training program, clinical exposure to morphine administration, work experience and length of qualifications as an ACP or ICP. Our findings suggest that there is a need for structured initial and ongoing continuing education programs in pain management to maintain knowledge and behavior in pain management strategies. Further research is also required into paramedic's behavioral intention regarding morphine administration to also identify what constructs affect their intent to administer morphine.

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Appropriate morphine administration by paramedics: a review of the literature

Journal of Paramedic Practice, 2013

ABSTRACT Objective: This paper focuses on three main areas: pain management practices for paramed... more ABSTRACT Objective: This paper focuses on three main areas: pain management practices for paramedics; in service continuing education programs and, possible pain-management differences between two levels of paramedics. Methods: A literature search was performed using four databases to identify literature reviews and journal articles from 1997 to 2013. The search was focused around three core areas: 1) Pre-hospital pain management 2) barriers to pain management; and 3) pain management education. There was a five stage process to identify the relevant literature based on specific terminology in the abstracts. Results: The literature search located 1240 articles, incorporating five stages with each stage having specific terms relevant to the research. Thirty two articles met the inclusion criteria. The breakdown of the articles included stage one - 6 articles, stage 2 - 10 results, stage 3 - 11 results, stage four - 5 articles and stage 5 - 0 articles. Conclusions: There remains little high-quality published evidence of systemic theoretical approach with which to validate many aspects of pain management in paramedic practice. Future research must identify if concepts taught in the classroom are being transferred to the clinical setting. Potential findings of such a study could be used to improve organisational awareness of factors that contribute to the behaviour and development of paramedics.

Morphine administration by Paramedics: An application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

Injury, 2012

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