The meaning of significant others’ encounter with the ambulance clinicians in a non-emergency care context

Abstract

The ambulance service is often summoned by a significant other. Therefore the ambulance clinician is expected to establish a trusting relationship with her/him and not focus solely on the patient. The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of significant others’ encounter with ambulance clinicians in a non-emergency ambulance care context, where patients were triaged to a level of care below that of the Accident and Emergency Department. The design was inductive. We used the phenomenological hermeneutic method developed by Lindseth and Norberg. Eleven significant others were interviewed using an open-ended method. A structural analysis resulted in a total of seven themes, covering the meaning of being de-burdened or the absence of de-burdening. When de-burdened, the significant other was empowered, irrespective of the outcome of the medical assessment and triage process. In the absence of de-burdening, the significant other felt inferior, petty, de-powered and not taken seriously by the ambulance clinicians. The majority of ambulance assignments are considered non-emergency care. The ambulance clinicians are the first to encounter significant others in these situations and therefore have a huge obligation to understand and handle their basic needs.