Research Symposium 2024 was hosted on the 18th and 19th of July, at Australian Catholic University, Brisbane campus. This symposium’s theme, “Influence and Inspire: Advancing the Paramedicine Research Agenda for Australasia,” reflects our commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in paramedic research. The goal of this symposium was to highlight the crucial role of paramedic research in shaping and advancing emergency care.

To watch more recordings from the symposium, click here. Please note that we experienced some audio issues while recording this event. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause while watching the recordings

Mental rehearsal in paramedicine: An acceptability study

Mental rehearsal has been historically used in sports psychology to improve performance and reduce stress. It is not known if these benefits transfer to the paramedicine domain. We conducted an acceptability study using a mixed methods approach to determine the acceptability amongst undergraduate and postgraduate paramedic students. Participants took part in a specifically designed workshop, describing the underlying theories of MR and practical application. Participants then provided feedback via the Usage Rating Profile – Intervention Revised (URP-IR) and free-text response questions, immediately after the workshop. Participants were followed up after two weeks to identify any change in key areas. Survey results showed that mental rehearsal was accepted by the study population, however further research is needed to determine what impact, if any, this method of education will have on clinical competency and patient safety.

Biography: Julia Massingham

Julia is a Critical Care Paramedic, who has worked with the Queensland Ambulance Service for the last eight years, and is currently working in Rockhampton as a Clinical Support Officer. In 2020, Julia completed her Graduate Diploma in Specialist Paramedic Practice and commenced her internship as a critical care paramedic with QAS, before returning to undertake a Masters research project in 2023. Throughout Julia's paramedic career, the ongoing challenge of maintaining clinical currency and proficiency of complex clinical interventions led Julia to investigate the role of Mental Rehearsal as a potential means of improving clinical care

Session moderator: Verity Todd, Senior lecturer, AUT