View in EDS

"It has some major knock-on effects": ambulance clinicians' experiences of attending alcohol-related call-outs and perceived impact on the Scottish ambulance service (IMPAACT study).

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: "It has some major knock-on effects": ambulance clinicians' experiences of attending alcohol-related call-outs and perceived impact on the Scottish ambulance service (IMPAACT study).
Authors: Uny, Isabelle (AUTHOR), Martin, Jack Gregor (AUTHOR), Mitchell, Danielle (AUTHOR), Ford, Allison (AUTHOR), Begley, Amelie (AUTHOR), Howell, Rebecca (AUTHOR), Fitzpatrick, David (AUTHOR), Mackay, Daniel (AUTHOR), Lewsey, Jim (AUTHOR), Fitzgerald, Niamh (AUTHOR)
Source: Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. Aug2026, Vol. 33 Issue 4, p395-408. 14p.
Subjects: Alcoholic intoxication, Secondary analysis, Qualitative research, Violence, Emergency medical technicians, Interviewing, Violence against medical personnel, Emergency medical services, Anxiety, Thematic analysis, Aggression (Psychology), Frustration, Ambulances, Attitudes of medical personnel, Research methodology, Sexual harassment, Morale, Job stress, Social support
Geographic Terms: Scotland
Abstract: Introduction: Alcohol consumption places a heavy burden on emergency services worldwide. In Scotland, around one in six ambulance call-outs is alcohol-related, yet little is known about frontline experiences. We aimed to understand ambulance clinicians' experiences of alcohol-related call-outs including any personal or professional impacts. Methods: In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 27 ambulance clinicians (May 2019–December 2021), and 4 managers (May-June2022), varied in gender, role, Scottish region, and experience. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Results: Clinicians reported anxiety linked to the unpredictable behavior of intoxicated patients, alongside frequent experiences of aggression, violence, and sexual harassment. Many saw such incidents as routine. The repetitive nature of alcohol-related calls led to frustration and reduced morale. Senior staff empathized and stressed the pressure on staff time and on the service from such calls. Often, these calls were not perceived as clinical emergencies on arrival at the scene, and were seen as potentially delaying responses to other, more clinically urgent, calls. Conclusions: Alcohol-related call-outs have a significant personal and organizational impact on ambulance staff and the Scottish Ambulance Service respectively. Improvements in care pathways, added funding to support treatment for alcohol dependence, staff training and uptake of incident reporting systems, may help manage these calls more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 195592979
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: "It has some major knock-on effects": ambulance clinicians' experiences of attending alcohol-related call-outs and perceived impact on the Scottish ambulance service (IMPAACT study).
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Uny%2C+Isabelle%22">Uny, Isabelle</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martin%2C+Jack+Gregor%22">Martin, Jack Gregor</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mitchell%2C+Danielle%22">Mitchell, Danielle</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ford%2C+Allison%22">Ford, Allison</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Begley%2C+Amelie%22">Begley, Amelie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Howell%2C+Rebecca%22">Howell, Rebecca</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fitzpatrick%2C+David%22">Fitzpatrick, David</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mackay%2C+Daniel%22">Mackay, Daniel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lewsey%2C+Jim%22">Lewsey, Jim</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fitzgerald%2C+Niamh%22">Fitzgerald, Niamh</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Drugs%3A+Education%2C+Prevention+%26+Policy%22">Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy</searchLink>. Aug2026, Vol. 33 Issue 4, p395-408. 14p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alcoholic+intoxication%22">Alcoholic intoxication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+analysis%22">Secondary analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Violence%22">Violence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emergency+medical+technicians%22">Emergency medical technicians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Violence+against+medical+personnel%22">Violence against medical personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emergency+medical+services%22">Emergency medical services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aggression+%28Psychology%29%22">Aggression (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Frustration%22">Frustration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ambulances%22">Ambulances</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes+of+medical+personnel%22">Attitudes of medical personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+harassment%22">Sexual harassment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Morale%22">Morale</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+stress%22">Job stress</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scotland%22">Scotland</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Introduction: Alcohol consumption places a heavy burden on emergency services worldwide. In Scotland, around one in six ambulance call-outs is alcohol-related, yet little is known about frontline experiences. We aimed to understand ambulance clinicians' experiences of alcohol-related call-outs including any personal or professional impacts. Methods: In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 27 ambulance clinicians (May 2019–December 2021), and 4 managers (May-June2022), varied in gender, role, Scottish region, and experience. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Results: Clinicians reported anxiety linked to the unpredictable behavior of intoxicated patients, alongside frequent experiences of aggression, violence, and sexual harassment. Many saw such incidents as routine. The repetitive nature of alcohol-related calls led to frustration and reduced morale. Senior staff empathized and stressed the pressure on staff time and on the service from such calls. Often, these calls were not perceived as clinical emergencies on arrival at the scene, and were seen as potentially delaying responses to other, more clinically urgent, calls. Conclusions: Alcohol-related call-outs have a significant personal and organizational impact on ambulance staff and the Scottish Ambulance Service respectively. Improvements in care pathways, added funding to support treatment for alcohol dependence, staff training and uptake of incident reporting systems, may help manage these calls more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=195592979
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/09687637.2025.2576804
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 395
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Alcoholic intoxication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Violence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emergency medical technicians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Violence against medical personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emergency medical services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aggression (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Frustration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ambulances
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitudes of medical personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexual harassment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Morale
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job stress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scotland
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: "It has some major knock-on effects": ambulance clinicians' experiences of attending alcohol-related call-outs and perceived impact on the Scottish ambulance service (IMPAACT study).
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Uny, Isabelle
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Martin, Jack Gregor
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mitchell, Danielle
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ford, Allison
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Begley, Amelie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Howell, Rebecca
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fitzpatrick, David
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mackay, Daniel
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lewsey, Jim
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fitzgerald, Niamh
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 08
              Text: Aug2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 09687637
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 33
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy
              Type: main
ResultId 1