A study of utilization pattern on emergency patients in Gwangju Emergency Medical Information Center during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays

명절 연휴기간 내 광주응급의료정보센터 이용현황 분석 - 설과 추석을 중심으로 -

Purpose : This study was conducted to understand the unforeseen phone calls placed through the 1339 emergency medical communication system by residents of the Gwangju/Jeonnam area during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays. Methods : A descriptive research method was implemented using SPSS to analyze 9,047 reported and received consultation phone calls made during the 2008 Lunar New Year holiday (February 6-10) and the 2008 Chuseok holiday (September 13-15) for frequency and percentages. Results : Among the general characteristics of subjects during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays, an examination of the distribution for gender showed more men than women and the distribution for age showed most subjects were thirties, followed by forties, and finally under ten years of age. According to the status of situational calls during the Lunar New Year holiday most were used for in the following order : providing resource information, misdialing and prank calls, and additional consultations. According to the status of situational calls during the Chuseok holiday most were used for in the following order : providing resource information, additional consultations, misdialing and prank calls. According to region most came from Gwangju Metropolitan City Bukgu, followed by Yeosu, Suncheon, and Mokpo in Jeonnam. According to callers, the majority were non-medical persons. According to time most were made between 9:01 and 12:00, while the fewest were made during 3:01 and 6:00. According to treatment department most were made in the following order : internal medicine, pharmacy, and pediatrics. Most medical resource information provided regarded areas outside the callers location. Conclusion : Emergency medical technician will play a central role in the emergency medical information system in the near future.