Paramedics are often first providers of care to patients experiencing non-traumatic low back pain (LBP), though their perspectives and experiences with managing these cases remain unclear.

This study explored paramedic views of the management of non-traumatic LBP including their role and experience with LBP management, barriers to referral and awareness of ambulance service guidelines.

Qualitative study using semistructured interviews conducted between January and April 2023.

New South Wales Ambulance service.

A purposive sample of 30 paramedics of different specialities employed by New South Wales Ambulance were recruited.

Paramedic accounts demonstrated the complexity, challenge, frustration and reward associated with managing non-traumatic LBP. Paramedics perceived that their primary role focused on the assessment of LBP, and that calls to ambulance services were often driven by misconceptions surrounding the management of LBP, and a person’s pain severity. Access to health services, patient factors, defensive medicine, paramedic training and education and knowledge of guidelines influenced paramedic management of LBP.

Paramedics often provide care to non-traumatic LBP cases yet depending on the type of paramedic speciality find these cases to be frustrating, challenging or rewarding to manage due to barriers to referral including access to health services, location, patient factors and uncertainty relating to litigation. Future research should explore patient perspectives towards ambulance service use for the management of their LBP.

To understand patients’ experiences with diabetes care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on rural, medically underserved, and/or minoritised racial and ethnic groups in the Midwestern USA.

Community-engaged, semi-structured interviews were conducted by medical student researchers trained in qualitative interviewing. Transcripts were prepared and coded in the language in which the interview was conducted (English or Spanish). Thematic analysis was conducted, and data saturation was achieved.

The study was conducted in communities in Eastern and Western Iowa.

Adults with diabetes (n=20) who were fluent in conversational English or Spanish were interviewed. One-third of participants were residents of areas designated as federal primary healthcare professional shortage areas and/or medically underserved areas, and more than half were recruited from medical clinics that offer care at no cost.

Themes across both English and Spanish transcripts included: (1) perspectives of diabetes, care providers and care management; (2) challenges and barriers affecting diabetes care; and (3) participant feedback and recommendations. Participants reported major constraints related to provider availability, costs of care, access to nutrition counselling and mental health concerns associated with diabetes care during the pandemic. Participants also reported a lack of shared decision-making regarding some aspects of care, including amputation. Finally, participants recognised systems-level challenges that affected both patients and providers and expressed a preference for proactive collaboration with healthcare teams.

These findings support enhanced engagement of rural, medically underserved and minoritised groups as stakeholders in diabetes care, diabetes research and diabetes provider education.