Rate My Professor Paul Braybrook

Paul Braybrook serves as a paramedic lecturer and course coordinator for paramedicine in the School of Nursing at Curtin University, within the Faculty of Health Sciences. He holds a BSc (Hons) and MSc, followed by a PhD completed in 2024 from Curtin University, with his thesis titled "The Epidemiology of injuries sustained on recreational trails in Western Australia." This comprehensive study investigates the epidemiology of injuries occurring on trails used for mountain biking and hiking, including spatial analysis of incidents in relation to available emergency medical services resources and the types and frequency of injuries at mass participation trail events in Western Australia. The research highlights the role of trail access in promoting physical activity to combat prevalent conditions such as cardiovascular disease, affecting 5.6% of Australians, and type 2 diabetes, impacting 4.8%, which together account for over 11% of healthcare spending. With an initial background in environmental science and management, Braybrook has established himself as an AHPRA-registered paramedic working for St John Ambulance Western Australia in the state ambulance service.

A member of the Prehospital, Resuscitation and Emergency Care Research Unit (PRECRU), Braybrook's research specializations encompass sports medicine epidemiology, prehospital resuscitation, emergency care, and the management of traumatic injuries in remote outdoor settings. His notable publications include "Epidemiology and Severity of Medical Events for Mountain Bikers and Hikers Transported by Ambulance in Western Australia, 2015 to 2020" (2024), "Analgesic agents administered by ambulance personnel to mountain bikers and hikers on trails in Western Australia" (2023), and "Types and anatomical locations of injuries among mountain bikers and hikers: A systematic review" (2023). These contributions provide evidence on injury patterns, upper limb predominance in mountain biking injuries, analgesic use, and overall risk profiles, informing trail safety design, government investments exceeding $20 million in Western Australian trails for health and tourism benefits, and future EMS resourcing. Braybrook has shared his expertise via the Curtin University podcast "The Future Of," discussing mountain biking's health impacts where benefits outweigh risks.