Kenji Ohshige1. 1. Department of Public Health, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. kenoh@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the change in the upward trend in monthly ambulance transports that occurred during a citywide campaign for appropriate ambulance use. This study also investigated whether the number of ambulance transports for individuals with nonserious conditions decreased separately from the decrease in ambulance transports for individuals with serious conditions. METHODS: A retrospective time series survey was carried out on the number of ambulance transports that occurred per month over a 10-year period (1997-2006). This study focused on individuals transported by ambulance because of illness. Seasonal decomposition was applied to adjust for the seasonal effect on ambulance transport. The shift in the trend during the campaign period (April 2005-December 2006) was examined by means of linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The number of individuals transported by ambulance decreased during the campaign period. A decrease in the number of ambulance transports was observed for both nonserious and serious conditions. During the campaign period, the number of ambulance transports per month was estimated to have decreased by 530 (approximately 7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -729 to -331) for individuals with nonserious conditions and by 37 (approximately 8%; 95% CI = -53 to -22) for individuals with serious conditions. CONCLUSIONS: A campaign to educate the public on appropriate ambulance use may reduce ambulance calls for both nonserious and serious conditions.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the change in the upward trend in monthly ambulance transports that occurred during a citywide campaign for appropriate ambulance use. This study also investigated whether the number of ambulance transports for individuals with nonserious conditions decreased separately from the decrease in ambulance transports for individuals with serious conditions. METHODS: A retrospective time series survey was carried out on the number of ambulance transports that occurred per month over a 10-year period (1997-2006). This study focused on individuals transported by ambulance because of illness. Seasonal decomposition was applied to adjust for the seasonal effect on ambulance transport. The shift in the trend during the campaign period (April 2005-December 2006) was examined by means of linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The number of individuals transported by ambulance decreased during the campaign period. A decrease in the number of ambulance transports was observed for both nonserious and serious conditions. During the campaign period, the number of ambulance transports per month was estimated to have decreased by 530 (approximately 7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -729 to -331) for individuals with nonserious conditions and by 37 (approximately 8%; 95% CI = -53 to -22) for individuals with serious conditions. CONCLUSIONS: A campaign to educate the public on appropriate ambulance use may reduce ambulance calls for both nonserious and serious conditions.
Authors: A Khorram-Manesh; K Lennquist Montán; A Hedelin; M Kihlgren; P Örtenwall Journal: Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg Date: 2010-05-04 Impact factor: 3.693
Authors: Christopher S Evans; Timothy F Platts-Mills; Antonio R Fernandez; Joseph M Grover; Jose G Cabanas; Mehul D Patel; Gary M Vilke; Jane H Brice Journal: Ann Emerg Med Date: 2017-05-27 Impact factor: 5.721
Authors: Martin Poryo; Martin Burger; Stefan Wagenpfeil; Bennet Ziegler; Harald Sauer; Marina Flotats-Bastardas; Ulrich Grundmann; Michael Zemlin; Sascha Meyer Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2019-10-25 Impact factor: 3.418