Low-Acuity Care in Australian Undergraduate Paramedicine Learning Outcomes
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Abstract
Introduction: Low-acuity presentations constitute a substantial proportion of ambulance caseload in Australia. Although emergency care is central to paramedicine education, graduates must also be prepared to assess and make non-conveyance decisions for this patient group. In Australia, undergraduate programs provide the foundation for entry into paramedicine. However, little is known about how low-acuity care is represented within curricula, particularly through subject unit learning outcomes (LOs).
Methods: An exploratory document analysis was conducted utilizing publicly available LOs and unit descriptions from Australian undergraduate programs. LOs were examined and categorized as ‘explicit’, ‘implied’, ‘mixed’, ‘ambiguous’ or 'nil' for both low- and high-acuity content. LOs were categorized as explicit where they directly referred to acuity-related terminology, such as non-emergency, primary care, time-critical, or acute. LOs were categorized as implied where acuity was suggested through context, and as ambiguous where reference to acuity was uncertain.
Results: Fifteen undergraduate programs were included with 1,770 LOs analyzed. Of these, 207 were determined to refer to low-acuity care with 23 categorized as explicit, 16 as implied, 68 as mixed, and 100 as ambiguous. In contrast, 485 LOs referred to high-acuity care with 234 categorized as explicit, 165 as implied, 68 as mixed, and 18 as ambiguous. When explicit and implied categories were combined, 39 of 1,770 LOs referred to low-acuity care, compared with 399 for high-acuity care.
Discussion: The findings of this study suggest considerable heterogeneity across LOs, particularly in how low-acuity care is represented compared to high-acuity. This may limit the articulation of expected graduate capabilities in assessment, management, and non-conveyance decision-making for patients requesting ambulance care for low-acuity conditions.
Conclusion: Greater representation of low-acuity care in undergraduate paramedicine program LOs may support closer alignment between graduate preparedness for practice and contemporary ambulance service demand. These findings may inform future curricula design in low-acuity care.
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