Self-Reported Completeness of Neurological Documentation in Prehospital Emergency Care: Associations With Neurological Training and Professional Experience
- 1Collegium Medicum, WSB University, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
- 2Department of Neurology, New Medical Techniques Specialist Hospital of St. Family in Rudna Mała, Rudna Mała, Poland
Abstract
Background: Neurological assessment is a critical component of prehospital emergency care, particularly in time-sensitive conditions including stroke and traumatic brain injury. Neurological documentation practices in this setting remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate self-reported completeness of neurological documentation among paramedics, then examine its associations with neurological training and professional experience.
Material/Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2025 and March 2026 among 348 paramedics working in emergency medical services in southeastern Poland. Data were collected using a structured electronic questionnaire. Self-reported documentation completeness was assessed using a composite score based on the reported frequency of documenting 7 neurological examination elements rated on a 5-point Likert scale (range: 7–35).
Results: Overall self-reported documentation completeness was moderate (mean score: 24.57). Respondents frequently reported documenting basic neurological parameters (eg, level of consciousness: 81.0%); more detailed components were reported less consistently. Only 9.2% of respondents reported consistently documenting temporal neurological changes. The greatest self-reported deficiencies involved documentation of temporal neurological changes and detailed focal neurological findings. Participation in neurological training was associated with higher completeness scores (26.20 vs 23.24; P < 0.001). Self-reported documentation completeness was positively correlated with professional experience (ρ = 0.359; P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Self-reported neurological documentation completeness among paramedics was moderate and selective; self-reported rates were lowest for dynamic and detailed focal neurological components. Participation in neurological training and greater professional experience were associated with higher self-reported documentation completeness scores. These findings suggest that standardized documentation protocols and targeted educational interventions contribute to more consistent neurological documentation practices in prehospital settings.
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BibTeX
@article{strojny2026selfreported,
title = {{Self-Reported Completeness of Neurological Documentation in Prehospital Emergency Care: Associations With Neurological Training and Professional Experience}},
author = {Damian Strojny and Karol Szwej and Damian Marut and Kamil Skubis and Beniamin Oskar Grabarek},
journal = {Medical Science Monitor: International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.12659/msm.953922},
url = {https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.953922},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Self-Reported Completeness of Neurological Documentation in Prehospital Emergency Care: Associations With Neurological Training and Professional Experience
AU - Damian Strojny
AU - Karol Szwej
AU - Damian Marut
AU - Kamil Skubis
AU - Beniamin Oskar Grabarek
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Medical Science Monitor: International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
DO - 10.12659/msm.953922
UR - https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.953922
AB - Background: Neurological assessment is a critical component of prehospital emergency care, particularly in time-sensitive conditions including stroke and traumatic brain injury. Neurological documentation practices in this setting remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate self-reported completeness of neurological documentation among paramedics, then examine its associations with neurological training and professional experience. Material/Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2025 and March 2026 among 348 paramedics working in emergency medical services in southeastern Poland. Data were collected using a structured electronic questionnaire. Self-reported documentation completeness was assessed using a composite score based on the reported frequency of documenting 7 neurological examination elements rated on a 5-point Likert scale (range: 7–35). Results: Overall self-reported documentation completeness was moderate (mean score: 24.57). Respondents frequently reported documenting basic neurological parameters (eg, level of consciousness: 81.0%); more detailed components were reported less consistently. Only 9.2% of respondents reported consistently documenting temporal neurological changes. The greatest self-reported deficiencies involved documentation of temporal neurological changes and detailed focal neurological findings. Participation in neurological training was associated with higher completeness scores (26.20 vs 23.24; P < 0.001). Self-reported documentation completeness was positively correlated with professional experience (ρ = 0.359; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Self-reported neurological documentation completeness among paramedics was moderate and selective; self-reported rates were lowest for dynamic and detailed focal neurological components. Participation in neurological training and greater professional experience were associated with higher self-reported documentation completeness scores. These findings suggest that standardized documentation protocols and targeted educational interventions contribute to more consistent neurological documentation practices in prehospital settings.
SN - 1234-1010
SN - 1643-3750
ER -