The local paramedics will deliver 100 of the Penthrox dosages to patients in their care during the study.
The low-dose inhaled Penthrox has been used extensively in emergency settings in Australia and New Zealand for over 30 years.
It has been approved in Canada for emergency relief of pain in conscious adult patients, and other areas of the world, but not across Ontario to the paramedic services.
Socha says, “Dr. Michael Austin, who’s leading the study, approached us as a paramedic service to say can we look at the training, look at the protocol, run a short study, and the methodology we use to do that. Look at the compliance and and effectiveness of it. Could we then role that out across the rest of Ontario to the rest of the paramedic services?”
“The primary aim of this feasibility study is to evaluate and refine the protocol…maximize the chances of identifying problems that may arise during a large trial,” he added.
The local participation is expected to begin soon, and last about two months.
The Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services has taken part in a number of research studies, including one with NASA in California.
