• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.7-18
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a pre-hospital subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) prediction tool by analyzing the extant predictive factors of patients with non-traumatic SAH who visited the hospital through the 119 emergency medical services. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed pre-hospital care reports (PCRs) and electronic medical records (EMRs) of 103 patients with non-traumatic SAH who were transported to the emergency department of two national hospitals via the 119 emergency medical service from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020. Variables required to apply the Ottawa SAH Rule and EMERALD SAH Rule, which are early prediction tools for SAH, were extracted and applied. Results: The most common symptoms-which were found in 94.1% and 97.0% of all patients according to PCRs and EMRs, respectively-appeared in the following order: headache, altered state of consciousness, and nausea/vomiting. When the variables used for the EMERALD Rule, namely systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and blood sugar test (BST), were applied, the sensitivities of EMR and PCRs were 99.9% and 92.2%, respectively. Conclusion: For the timely prediction of SAH at the pre-hospital phase, patient age and symptoms should be assessed, and SBP, DBP, and BST should be measured to transport the patient to an appropriate hospital.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-19
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate and assess the response capabilities and educational needs of 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in chemical accidents. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 167 119 EMTs between December 1st and December 31, 2023. The questionnaire comprised 8 questions on general characteristics, 2 on chemical accidents experienced by the participants, 29 on response capabilities, and 15 on educational needs. Data analysis was performed using t-tests, analysis of variance, Duncan's test for post-hoc analysis, and Pearson's correlation coefficient, using SPSS 27.0. Results: The participants scored 2.69 points on response capacity to chemical accidents. The EMT-Paramedics scored high in 'patient triage,' 'patient treatment,' 'patient transport,' and 'collaborative support' (F=3.924, p=.010; F=5.843, p=.001; F=3.698, p=.013; F=5.272, p=.002), followed by educational experience (t=-4.962, p<.001; t=-2.685, p=.008; t=-3.455, p=.001; t=-3.593, p<.001; t=-3.034, p=.003). The participants scored 4.19 points on educational needs, with high scores for 'patients treatment and transport' (4.280.93). The scores for 'patient triage competency', and 'patient triage' (r=.169, p=.024) correlated positively. Furthermore, the scores for 'patient treatment competency' and all sub-factors of educational needs (r=.185, p=.013; r=.215, p=.004; r=.199, p=.008; r=.190, p=.011; r=.197, p=.008) correlated positively. Conclusion: To strengthen the response capabilities of 119 EMTs, it is imperative to develop an educational program that focuses on first-aid responses.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2007

In Korea, Crowds, as well as more complex and larger structures, have been caused more victims in the event of fire. In that situation, EMSS should have done triage the patients according to their severity in the field, treat with standard guidelines as like advanced burn life support and transfer to appropriate facility. But in many cases, they didn't practice like that. The purpose of this study is to give basic data for proper emergency medical services by analysing EMSS of large scaled fire in Korea and suggesting some improvement methods. The improvment methods are like this ; First, developing of protocols about burn patient is needed for EMT and dispatcher. Second, Legal approval for advanced treatment is needed for EMT. Third, Fire-helicoptors are needed in Daejeon and Jeju. And Emergency Medical Helicoptors are needed in EMSS. Forth, more advanced emergency medical centers of burn must be established. Sixth, more pocket-mask and burn sheet are needed for 119 rescuer. Finally, building owners must change inflammable materials as non-inflammable materials and educate fire-prevention and first-aid to employees.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.399-408
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the regional characteristics on the accessibility of emergency care and the impact of emergency medical accessibility on the patients' prognosis and the emergency medical expenditure. Methods: This study used the 13th beta version 1.6 annual data of Korea Health Panel and the statistics from the Korean Statistical Information Service. The sample included 8,119 patients who visited the emergency centers between year 2013 and 2017. The arrival time, which indicated medical access, was used as dependent variable for multi-level analysis. For ordinal logistic regression and multiple regression, the arrival time was used as independent variable while patients' prognosis and emergency medical expenditure were used as dependent variables. Results: The results for the multi-level analysis in both the individual and regional variables showed that as the number of emergency medical institutions per 100 km² area increased, the time required to reach emergency centers significantly decreased. Ordinal logistic regression and multiple regression results showed that as the arrival time increased, the patients' prognosis significantly worsened and the emergency medical expenses significantly increased. Conclusion: In conclusion, the access to emergency care was affected by regional characteristics and affected patient outcomes and emergency medical expenditure.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.17-35
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate basic data on preceptor's core competencies required for junior 119 paramedics to improve the quality of emergency care in the prehospital field. Methods: From February 23 to March 10, 2021, data were collected through structured mobile questionnaires from 163 paramedics working in Sejong, Daejeon, and Chung Nam fire stations. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The average score of core competencies for junior 119 paramedics accounted for the importance of core competency (3.92 points), level of competence (3.43 points), educational needs (3.65 points). Among them, the importance of a role model accounted for 4.02 points, the highest among the sub-areas. Additionally, there was a significant correlation (r=.686), which was the highest, between the importance and educational needs of core competency; therefore, higher the importance of core competency, higher are the educational needs. Conclusion: Preceptor's core competencies concern three domains: role model, socialization facilitation, and instructional design. It would be more effective for those with higher professionalism and professional self-development needs to be trained as a prehospital preceptor.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.157-163
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• 2019

Purpose: Advanced airway maintenance improves the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. In this study, we evaluate the factors associated with advanced airway management while performing CPR for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients by 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: The observational analysis method was used ro retrospectively collect data from 119 rescue run sheets. This study was conducted in a fire station in Seoul, Korea. The subjects of this study were defined as OHCA patients who received CPR from July 2016 to June 2018. We divided the subjects into two groups according to whether advanced airway maintenance was performed or not, and then compared and analyzed both groups. We performed logistic regression analyses for characteristics that differed significantly between groups. Results: Out of 188 OHCA patients, 146 (77.7%) had received advanced airway management. Statistically significant differences in the logistic analysis were found regarding the total number of EMT professionals (adjusted odds ration [aOR]: 1.955; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.227-3.115; p=0.005) and scene-time (aOR:1.119;95%CI:1.019-1.228;p=0.019). Conclusion: Advanced airway maintenance while performing CPR for OHCA patients by EMT associated primarily with ensuring an adequate numbers of EMT professionals and sufficient scene time.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.145-162
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• 2021

Purpose: The 2018 General survey of emergency assistance was conducted to examine the working conditions and welfare, including educational direction, interests, and awareness of work, of the fire department emergency medical technicians (EMT). This would be used as basic data for future policy directions. Methods: Among the fire-fighting officers in 16 cities nationwide, emergency rescue workers engaged in first-aid activities were targeted. With prior consent, a survey was conducted through electronic documents. Of the total 1,227 people, responses from 1,151 were finally analyzed, excluding 76 who did not respond appropriately. Results: The working conditions and welfare of 119 firefighters were moderate, but in the fields of education and interest, the learning according to the regulations was high. In particular, satisfaction with the scope of work was found to be below average. However, it was positive that it will play a role as a social safety net in the future and will converge with cutting-edge science. Conclusion: Although this study was a total investigation of the EMT survey, conducting an EMT survey on all fire fighters in Korea is difficult. Further research is needed, particularly on first-class emergency medical personnel who play a major role in 119 paramedics.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.85-97
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was cross-sectional study to examine the influence of job stress in 119 briefing room workers and aimed to provide the important basic materials for improving working conditions of 119 briefing room workers and further studies. Methods : This study selected 271 workers of 119 briefing room at National Emergency Management Agency and fire stations, metropolitan cities and provinces to examine the influences of job stress of 119 briefing room workers on depression. and as a result of analysis, the following conclusions. Results : 1) The whole average of job stress measure was 3.30. The highest area was interpersonal relationship factor as 3.41, 'job characteristic factor' as 3.36 and communication factor' as 3.01. 2) Total score of whole items of depression was 11.88 and showed slight depression level. 3) There was static correlation between job stress and depression(r=44.7, p= .000). There were statistically significant static correlations between job stress factor and depression(r= .388, p= .000), interpersonal relationship factor and depression(r= .471, p= .000), and communication factor and depression(r= .386, p= .000). 4) There was statistically significant difference in the influence of job stress on depression(B=8.575, p< .001). Influence of job stress on depression was explained as $R^2=.200$. When job stress factors as independent variables were input, interpersonal relationship factor(B=5.062, p< .001) had the greatest influence on depression and there was no statistically significant difference in communication factor(B=2.490, p< .05). Conclusions : It is considered that development of the various programs including program for getting rid of job stress of 119 briefing room workers and counseling program will be needed. particularly, factors such as human relationships and communication in the area of job stress must be the first priority.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.538-547
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• 2001

Purpose: To evaluate the emergency medical protocols and need assessment through the case report Method: The study investigated the emergency call system through the 1339 emergency patients information center in 1997. Results: The emergency calls tend to follow general trends of the type of cases : abdominal pain (13.5%), unconsciousness(12.0%), traffic accidents (7.4%), bleeding (6.6%), respiration difficulty (5.9%). This was all collected through emergency medical protocols injury and poisoning (22.3%), symptom (51.6%), others (26.1%). Conclusion: The results suggest that a specific training program for emergency medical dispatchers should be established, and emergency medical dispatcher managers must review the cases on the basis of emergency medical protocols every year. Emergency medical services, furthermore, will continue to raise the standard for emergency medical dispatching.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.35-48
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the core competency of disaster management of 119 paramedics. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 242 paramedics in C area from April 28 to May 12, 2017. The study instrument included general characteristics of the subjects (4 items), disaster experience, recognition, and preparedness (20 items), and importance and performance of disaster management core competency (24 items) by Likert 5-point scale. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient using IBM SPSS 24.0. Results: The seriousness of personal disaster was 4.02 points and the importance of disaster-related education was 4.28 points. The importance to core competency of disaster management was 4.39 points and the ability to perform core competency was 3.58 points. The seriousness of personal disaster and the importance of disaster-related education were positively correlated (r=.600, p=.000). The importance and ability to perform core competency were positively correlated (r=.389, p=.000). Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen core competency of disaster management in paramedics who are the first defense line of disaster.