A consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study

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dc.contributor.advisorStassen, Willem
dc.contributor.authorTheunissen, Simone Stefanie
dc.contributor.authorPark-Ross, Jocelyn Frances
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-09T06:51:22Z
dc.date.available2025-04-09T06:51:22Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.date.updated2025-04-08T13:04:48Z
dc.description.abstractINTRODUCTION: Search and rescue (SAR) endeavours to locate distressed individuals in remote, challenging environments. Terrestrial rescues take place on land, while aquatic rescues involve water operations. The global surge in outdoor activities has increased SAR demands, especially in challenging landscapes, prompting the need for efficient terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. In South Africa, SAR practices face challenges due to a lack of standardisation, governance, and clear guidelines, leading to agency communication and coordination issues. To address this, a standardised reporting and documenting framework is essential to ensure uniform terminology and documentation in helicopter SAR missions. This study focuses on the initial step of standardising reporting and documenting to overcome these challenges and improve the quality of standardised report writing and documentation, particularly following rescue missions. METHODS: A Modified Delphi survey was conducted over three rounds to obtain a sample criterion of variables for reporting and documenting terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. The first round of the Delphi study was informed by a literature review. Purposive snowball sampling was used to recruit experts in terrestrial rescue. An online survey tool offered both binary and free-text options to participants. Consensus was set at 75%. RESULTS: A panel of twenty-eight participants agreed to partake in the study, and 16 (57%) completed all three rounds. A total of 65 items were proposed to the panel for review and were grouped into five categories: temporospatial, technical, operational, patient, and clinical. A consensus of 96.9 % (63/65 items) was obtained during the first round, 77.5% consensus (31/40 items) in round two, and 33.3 % (3/9 items) at the end of round three. A total of seventy-five variables were included in the final list of items recommended to report on for terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. CONCLUSION: The study aimed to establish a standardised and universally accepted set of reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. This initiative addressed challenges from inconsistent practices, diverse terminology, and incomplete records, aiming to enhance the efficiency, communication, and effectiveness of terrestrial helicopter SAR missions in South Africa. As a result, the study successfully compiled a comprehensive list of essential variables for reporting on terrestrial helicopter SAR operations in South Africa.
dc.identifier.apacitationTheunissen, S. S., & Park-Ross, J. F. (2024). <i>A consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Emergency Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41372en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationTheunissen, Simone Stefanie, and Jocelyn Frances Park-Ross. <i>"A consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Emergency Medicine, 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41372en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationTheunissen, S.S. & Park-Ross, J.F. 2024. A consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Emergency Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41372en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Theunissen, Simone Stefanie AU - Park-Ross, Jocelyn Frances AB - INTRODUCTION: Search and rescue (SAR) endeavours to locate distressed individuals in remote, challenging environments. Terrestrial rescues take place on land, while aquatic rescues involve water operations. The global surge in outdoor activities has increased SAR demands, especially in challenging landscapes, prompting the need for efficient terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. In South Africa, SAR practices face challenges due to a lack of standardisation, governance, and clear guidelines, leading to agency communication and coordination issues. To address this, a standardised reporting and documenting framework is essential to ensure uniform terminology and documentation in helicopter SAR missions. This study focuses on the initial step of standardising reporting and documenting to overcome these challenges and improve the quality of standardised report writing and documentation, particularly following rescue missions. METHODS: A Modified Delphi survey was conducted over three rounds to obtain a sample criterion of variables for reporting and documenting terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. The first round of the Delphi study was informed by a literature review. Purposive snowball sampling was used to recruit experts in terrestrial rescue. An online survey tool offered both binary and free-text options to participants. Consensus was set at 75%. RESULTS: A panel of twenty-eight participants agreed to partake in the study, and 16 (57%) completed all three rounds. A total of 65 items were proposed to the panel for review and were grouped into five categories: temporospatial, technical, operational, patient, and clinical. A consensus of 96.9 % (63/65 items) was obtained during the first round, 77.5% consensus (31/40 items) in round two, and 33.3 % (3/9 items) at the end of round three. A total of seventy-five variables were included in the final list of items recommended to report on for terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. CONCLUSION: The study aimed to establish a standardised and universally accepted set of reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter SAR operations. This initiative addressed challenges from inconsistent practices, diverse terminology, and incomplete records, aiming to enhance the efficiency, communication, and effectiveness of terrestrial helicopter SAR missions in South Africa. As a result, the study successfully compiled a comprehensive list of essential variables for reporting on terrestrial helicopter SAR operations in South Africa. DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - terrestrial helicopter rescue KW - hoist KW - longline KW - HEMS KW - rescue techniques KW - SAR LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - A consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study TI - A consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41372 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41372
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationTheunissen SS, Park-Ross JF. A consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Emergency Medicine, 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41372en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDivision of Emergency Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectterrestrial helicopter rescue
dc.subjecthoist
dc.subjectlongline
dc.subjectHEMS
dc.subjectrescue techniques
dc.subjectSAR
dc.titleA consensus on reporting variables for terrestrial helicopter search and rescue operations in South Africa through a Delphi study
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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