Project Overview
This compilation includes materials from two interconnected research endeavors focusing on tele-emergency medicine solutions.
In the face of demographic shifts and a critical shortage of qualified personnel in emergency medical services, telemedicine stands poised to offer more efficient avenues for enhanced care. Given the community-centric nature of emergency services, local communities assume a pivotal role. The initial study delved into the expectations of healthcare professionals and volunteers regarding telemedicine tools in prehospital emergency medicine. Stakeholder engagement emerges as a crucial driver for advancements in product development. This necessity now extends to the healthcare sector, spurred by the scarcity of healthcare professionals and the urgent demand for effective solutions. Leveraging design thinking and co-design methodologies, the subsequent study aimed to foster comprehensive stakeholder involvement, crafting streamlined processes and adaptable frameworks to spur innovative solutions in tele-emergency medicine.
Under Austrian legislation, ethical approval for the studies was exempted by the Chair of the Ethical Review Board as they did not involve the collection of personal data.
Data and Data Collection Overview
In the initial study, a mixed-methods approach integrated a survey (with 99 respondents) and two focus groups (comprising 13 participants) involving stakeholders from the local emergency medical service in the rural area of Burgenland, Austria. The selection of this site was deliberate, aiming to gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by emergency medical services in areas with limited infrastructure.
In the subsequent study, design thinking and co-design methodologies were developed, adapted, and tested to devise effective tools and demonstrate their practical application. This formed part of a collaborative process engaging stakeholders and leading users in the development of a telemedicine solution for emergency medical services. This research was descriptive in nature, offering a transparent and comprehensive depiction of the co-design process. The tools underwent testing in co-design workshops, with the research team continuously observing the participants. A total of seventeen healthcare professionals, emergency medical technicians, and academics took part in the co-design process to create a telemedicine solution for emergency medical services. The structured co-design activities facilitated the collective creation of solutions that aligned with overarching needs.
Shared Data Organization
To indicate the phase of the project to which each file belongs, a prefix of "1" or "2" is appended to the file name. The majority of materials are in German, reflecting their use in the actual research, with certain documentation files translated into English.
The files from the initial study comprise documentation files containing complete survey questionnaires (in both German and English) and focus group guidelines, alongside data files containing quantitative survey results and a comprehensive set of codes utilized for qualitative analysis, with illustrative quotes for each theme and subtheme.
The files from the subsequent study include documentation such as a co-design workshop plan and three sets of interview guidelines tailored to each stakeholder type. Additionally, data files encompass observations of simulation cases, observations from the co-design workshop, and selected excerpts from interviews.
The deposit also includes a combined data narrative and an administrative README file. |