Determinants of the Demand for Public Ambulance Calls in a Metropolitan Area

서울시 소방구급차(消防救急車)서비스 수요(需要) 결정요인(決定要因)

Purpose : This study was to analyze the demand for emergency ambulance service and to characterize the factors associated with the demand. Method : The basis for the model was from the actual demand for public emergency ambulance and socioeconomic and geographic characteristics. Multiple regression analyses were done for the related characteristics of public ambulance service. Result : The model explained total demand with a high degree of accuracy : the coefficient of determination($R^2=0.96$). For the regression, the set of variables indicative of low socioeconomic status were all significant. It showed the inappropriate use of public ambulance system. Public ambulance demand increased in higher housing density, low income, male unemployment and female labor force. Conclusion : The demand for public ambulances appeared to be highly predictable, using a simple linear model employing socioeconomic variables, quality of service variables, and land use variables. Low-income families tended, to use the public ambulance system more often than higher income. Area having elderly people or children also made many calls. Estimated demand calls were stable and had a tendency to be similar incident types.