Table 1 Data collection headings used to organise data from the AS34 (RTT form) and AS9 (patient record) developed in the pilot study

Date of Incident and job number

Unique identifier for every emergency call. Patient details were omitted from the research data but the unique identifier ensured that the researchers were able to trace the original records.

Vehicle call sign

'Cross check' to ensure that in cases which involved multiple patients under the same identifier, for instance in the case of a road traffic collision, or where a patient name had not been recorded or in cases where the scanning system used to store information onto the record database misread job numbers leading to two records with the same identifier being stored, the correct record could be identified.

Presenting condition

The presenting condition was the information recorded in the 'chief complaint' box (on AS9)

Immediate treatment given

Any treatment that was recorded on the AS9 as being provided to the patient by the ambulance clinician on scene.

Refusal against advice

Instances where the clinician has explicitly noted on the AS 34 or AS 9 that the patient had 'refused to travel' against advice.

Clinical reason for non-transportation where stated

Where the reason, as recorded by the clinician for non-transportation, suggested that the injury or condition did not require hospital treatment/there was no injury. This information was gathered from the reasons recorded on the AS34 and/or the free text history box on the AS9.

Patient reason for refusal where stated

This heading was used to note the reasons for non-transportation where they were explicitly recorded as originating from the patient. This information was gathered from the AS 34 and/or the AS 9.