Table I.
Semi‐Structured Interview Guide
| WARM UP QUESTIONS: |
| Tell me what it is like to work as an EMT in [city name]. |
| INCIDENT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS: |
| Tell me about the assault you experienced while on a medical run? |
| Tell me about the factors that led up to your injury? |
| Patient contributions to the event? |
| Your contributions to the event? |
| Fire Department contributions/resources you need from the department? |
| PSYCHOLOGICAL QUESTIONS: |
| Tell me about the emotions you experienced during the incident. |
| How comfortable did you feel reporting your experience after being assaulted? |
| Can you tell me about the process/system in place to report incidents such as the one you experienced? Was there a follow up to ensure medical treatment or counseling had been provided after the incident? |
| After experiencing this episode of violence, please describe how it has impacted you: personally (relationships with others)? Professionally (at work)? |
| GENERAL ASSAULT QUESTIONS: |
| How do you feel about the idea of being assaulted as “a part of the job”? |
| Have you ever witnessed another colleague being assaulted on a medical run or heard them discuss being assaulted while working? |
| POLICY QUESTIONS: |
| Are you aware of a written workplace violence policies or procedures? |
| If yes, as best as you can, please explain what the policy entails? |
| If no, what type of policy would you recommend to have a safer work environment? |
| What are your thoughts about the Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)? |
| Offered by the City? |
| Offered by the Union? |
| LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS: |
| How do you feel about the quality of the job leadership is doing to address this issue? |
| Can you tell me about the kind of training you received regarding assaults and/or how to protect yourself during a high risk encounter? |
| How comfortable do you feel making suggestions to management about corrective actions that should be taken once an assault has occurred? |
| PREVENTION QUESTIONS: |
| What are your ideas about how assaults can be prevented? |
| What are your thoughts about the following prevention suggestions? |
| Would having known violent calls flagged in the system be helpful? |
| Would physical barrier (i.e. barricade tape?) assist in keeping EMTs safe? |
| Would simulation training or other training classes increase skills to keep EMTs safer? |
| How do you feel about male–female partners on medical runs as a prevention strategy? |
| CLOSING QUESTION: |
| Those are all of the questions we have for you today, is there anything else you would like to add before we end? |