Background

Abdominal pain is a common symptom encountered by emergency medical services (EMS) in Sweden. EMS nurses follow a structured process involving clinical history, physical examination, and final assessment, as guided by regional protocols. However, little is known about EMS nurses' adherence to these guidelines.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate adherence to regional guidelines for managing abdominal pain in EMS and explore whether EMS nurses' educational level is associated with adherence.

Methods

A retrospective, descriptive review of EMS case records for patients with ESS Code 6 (abdominal pain) was conducted. Data were analyzed to compare adherence to guidelines between EMS nurses with and without specialized education.

Results

A total of 600 cases were reviewed. Guideline adherence was suboptimal in several areas, such as pain intensity documented in only 36 % of cases, and abdominal palpation performed in 70 %. EMS nurses with specialized education were more likely to administer pain relief, perform abdominal palpation, and measure blood glucose.

Conclusion

Adherence to guidelines for managing abdominal pain in EMS was limited, particularly in documenting pain intensity. The findings suggest that a higher level of education among EMS nurses may improve compliance with assessment and treatment protocols.