PARA2100 Ethics, Conflict and Crisis Management in Accident and Emergency Medicine Course description

This course deals with interaction and communication with patients and next of kin in stress and crisis situations. Communication with patients, next of kin, colleagues and others requires ambulance personnel to be systematic and aware in their dialogue with the above. The course elucidates different conflict situations in prehospital work.

Passed the first and second years of the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• has knowledge of stress and crisis reactions in patients, next of kin and health personnel
• is capable of identifying problematic ethical and communication issues
• is capable of identifying issues relating to attitudes linked to health care work in a multicultural society
• has knowledge of conflicts and conflict escalation
• has knowledge of conflict management in dealings with patients with serious mental illnesses
• has knowledge of conflict management in situations involving threats of violence
• has knowledge of conflict management in dealings with people under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• has knowledge of the principle of necessity, self-defence and the interface between paramedics and the police
• has knowledge of qualitative methodology

Skills

The student

• is capable of, based on simulated situations, telling individuals or groups in a respectful and caring manner that someone has died or communicating other serious messages
• is capable of, based on simulated cases, choosing a relevant communication and conflict management strategy, and gaining training and experience in setting limits
• is capable of processing and applying qualitative research results in written presentations

General competence

The student

• has the ability to recognise and reflect on ethical and communicative challenges in dealings with people in crisis
• has the ability to recognise conflict situations and prevent them from escalating

The work and teaching methods vary between lectures, simulation and skills training, study groups, seminars and self-study.

Practical training

Simulation and skills training linked to conflict situations and telling people that someone has died or communicating other serious messages.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• minimum attendance of 80% at seminars and study groups
• minimum attendance of 90% at simulation and skills training
• written assignment in groups of up to 3 students, 1,000 words (+/- 10%)

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form: Three-day home exam in groups of up to 3 students. 3,000 words (+/- 10%)

All.

Grade scale A-F

All papers are assessed by two internal examiners. The external examiner contributes to the preparation of the exam questions and assessment criteria.