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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Stephen Matick

  • BA (Simon Fraser University, 2015)
Notice of the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Public Administration

Topic

Attraction and Retention of Ambulance Paramedics in British Columbia

School of Public Administration

Date & location

  • Tuesday, February 24, 2026
  • 10:00 A.M.
  • Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

  • Dr. Barton Cunningham, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
  • Dr. Sean Darling, School of Public Administration, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

  • Dr. Abdul Vahabpour Roudsari, School of Health Information Science, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

  • Dr. Stan Dosso, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, UVic 

Abstract

Acting as the primary responders within provincial ambulance services, adequate staffing of Paramedics is key to the overall functioning of most Canadian emergency medical systems. However, most of the workforce-related research on this important occupational group is based on ambulance services outside of Canada. Studies which focus on the workplace factors affecting the attraction and retention of ambulance personnel within the Canadian context are limited. This is problematic, as there is a wide variance in the structures of emergency medical response frameworks across different jurisdictions; even across Canadian provinces. Additional information on the context-specific factors which influence the attraction and retention of Canadian paramedics would likely prove useful to policy makers and health authorities in B.C. Other Canadian jurisdictions may also benefit from additional research to inform cross-provincial comparisons of ambulance structures.

To this end, this exploratory study utilized a semi-structured, one-on-one interview format to acquire qualitative data on the subjective workplace experiences of working ambulance paramedics in B.C. A conceptual framework drawn from previous literature was used to inform the interview questions. A convenience sample of 12 Paramedics were asked to discuss the factors which most influenced their decision to enter the profession, as well as the workplace factors they felt most influenced retention. Respondents were also asked if they had recommendations towards improving their working experiences.

Interview data was organized into themes. ‘Attractant’ themes were grouped by question intent while retention and improvement-related themes were organized into groups aligning with the concept-categories outlined within the conceptual framework. 3-5 themes arose within each attractant group and conceptual framework. These themes were then analyzed and discussed within the wider academic and environmental context. Respondent recommendations for improvement were also discussed in the course of this wider analysis.

The analysis conducted under this study outlined 7 potential areas of future research within the field of Paramedic attraction and retention. 11 recommendations for improving the retention of ambulance personnel in B.C. were also synthesized from both the explicit recommendations of respondents, as well as the content of the emergent themes. The results of this study will prove useful for both policy makers looking to improve the stability of the provincial ambulance workforce as well as researchers looking to add to the literature on Canadian Paramedics.

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