The effect of social interaction on decision making in emergency ambulance teams: a statistical discourse analysis

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the effects of social interaction, cognitive flexibility, and seniority on the correct response among emergency ambulance teams during case intervention. METHODS: The research, structured with the sequential exploratory mixed method, was conducted with 18 emergency ambulance personnel. The approach process of the teams working on the scenario was video recorded. The records were transcribed by the researchers, including gestures and facial expressions. Discourses were coded and modeled with regression. RESULTS: The number of discourses was higher in groups with high correct intervention scores. As the level of cognitive flexibility or seniority increased, the correct intervention score tended to decrease too. Informing has been identified as the only variable that positively affects the correct response to the emergency case, especially in the first period, which is directed toward case intervention preparation. CONCLUSION: Within the findings of the research, it is recommended that activities and scenario-based training practices that will increase the intra-team communication of the emergency ambulance personnel should be included in the medical education and in-service training. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-023-04091-w.