• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.29-43
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• 2012

Purpose : The goal of the present study is to provide the basic information to medical control which is the most important improving factor of pre-hospital medical treatment. Method : A total of 749 records of direct medical control were collected from 119 EMTs in emergency medical information center of Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do and Chungcheongbuk-do from March 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011. Results : The 119 EMTs should record the level of qualification of EMT and general patient history taking precisely when they receive direct medical controls. The doctors should take medical controls within the task range of qualification of EMTs. Conclusion : It is necessary to establish the guideline of medical direction and protocol of prehospital emergency care. The quality improvement of pre-hospital emergency services will be possible by the guideline and protocol.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2013

Purpose : This study intended to improve the quality of prehospital emergency care for patients with dyspnea by figuring out the current situations and problems based on run-sheets of 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods : A total of 336 dyspnea patients were transferred to G university hospital by 119 ambulances from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. Results : The data were analyzed by SPSS 19.0. Patients over 60 years old accounted for 57.2% and 48.4% had the history of heart disease. Among the heart disease patients, 31.7% complained of dyspnea and chest pain. The vital sign measurement performance by 119 EMTs increased compared to previous study. The number of prehospital treatment by 119 EMTs significantly increased depending on the mental state of the patients. Conclusion : 119 EMTs should remind the heart disease and other past history of the patients when they perform the dyspnea patient care.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the rationality for and countermeasures against the use of prehospital patient restraint (PPR) techniques in efforts to limit violent behavior toward 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: Previous countermeasures to limit violent behavior toward 119 EMTs and medical personnel were focused on strict reactive and passive proactive responses. However, those in support of the countermeasures do not believe that violent and criminal behavior can be limited or extinguished by strengthening the punishment unconditionally. Results: When it comes to the far-reaching effects of stigmatization on people who engage in violent and criminal behavior, it is possible that unconditional punishment leads to more crime, increases the costs of imprisonment, and consequently, adds to the financial burden of the government. Conclusion: Thus, we are faced with an urgent need to prepare legal grounds for the use of PPR techniques by 119 EMTs for agitated or combative patients only, with direct medical oversight. Moreover, the legal foundation for the use of PPR techniques also needs to be established for emergency medical personnel. The use of PPR techniques not only ensures the safety of emergency medical services personnel, but also protects patients from injuring themselves and others.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.131-148
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the associations of job stress and burnout with the quality of life (QOL) among 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: Using a descriptive correlational design, 260 EMTs working in D City or S City completed the questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the predictors of QOL among 119 EMTs. Results: Overall, there was relatively low job stress among 119 EMTs. There were significant differences in job stress and burnout by general characteristics, especially regarding those of gender, service career, job rank, and self-reported health. In a hierarchical multiple regression, general characteristics explained 29% of QOL (Model I, F=16.369, p<.001). The explanatory power for QOL increased to 49% upon adding job stress (Model II, F=18.737, p<.001), and 59% upon adding burnout (Model III, F=22.621, p<.001). In the last model, self-reported health (${\beta}=.316$, p<.001), job demand (${\beta}=-.130$, p=.009), job insecurity (${\beta}=-.136$, p=.010), lack of reward (${\beta}=-.189$, p=.001), emotional exhaustion (${\beta}=-.196$, p=.004) and lack of personal accomplishment (${\beta}=-.334$, p<.001) were significant predictors of QOL among 119 EMTs. Conclusion: Based on the results, it is necessary to assess and manage job stress and burnout systematically among EMTs, and to develop health improvement programs for better QOL.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.27-42
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• 2011

Purpose: This study intended to improve quality of prehospital emergency care for trauma patients by figuring out its current situations and problems based on run-sheets and questionnaires of 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: This study conducted a research of 425 trauma patients transferred to the 3rd hospital in G-city by 119 ambulances from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. We aslo utilized 114 copies with questionnaires of 119 EMTs working in J-province. The data were analyzed with SPSS 18.0. Results: There were 425 trauma patients including 272 men and 137 patients with traffic accident. When it comes to types of 119 EMTs who delivered cares to patients, there were 206 (48.5%) advanced EMTs, 101 (23.8%) basic EMTs, 50 (11.8%) nurses and 43 (10.2%) rescue education receivers. The most frequent measured vital sign was pulse rate (54.1%). Regarding assessment of systolic blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration rate, there were some significant differences in accordance with type of 119 EMTs. Among the 317 patients evaluated 'emergency' in field, 137 patients returned to their home. Prehospital emergency cares accounted for 861, around 2.0 treatments per a patient. In view of questionnaire, the 74.6% of 119 EMTs hoped supplement of man power for proper prehospital care to trauma patients. Conclusion: This study suggested that it is necessary to develop detailed guidelines for trauma patients so as to improve quality of trauma patient evaluation and prehospital care. Furthermore, improvement of emergency care systems will reduce mortality of trauma patients and lead to their good outcome.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.43-59
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess 119 emergency medical technicians' perception of child abuse, attitudes towards mandatory reporting, and perceptions of mandatory reporting system, and to promote early reporting. Methods: The questionnaire was filled out by one hundred ninety 119 EMTs with paramedic or nurse licenses. The questionnaire consisted of 53 items with responses based on a five-point scale. Data were collected from July 10 to July 31, 2018, and were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24.0 software. Results: The average score for 119 EMT's perception of child abuse was 3.76. The average score for positive attitude towards mandatory reporting was 3.63, and the average score for negative attitude towards mandatory reporting was 2.63. The average score for perceptions of the mandatory reporting system was 3.50. There was a significant positive correlation between perception of child abuse and positive attitude towards mandatory reporting (r=.244, p=.001), between perception of child abuse and perceptions of the mandatory reporting system (r=.209, p=.004), and between positive attitude towards mandatory reporting and perceptions of mandatory reporting system (r=.336, p=.000). Conclusion: Systemic educational programs for 119 EMTs on perception of child abuse and reporting are needed. It is very important to establish institutional strategies such as the use of checklist for suspicion of child abuse, procedural simplicity after reporting, and protection of reporter information.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-115
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to provide basic data for clinical training program development by analyzing the operating conditions and satisfaction in a clinical training program for 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in South Korea. Methods: Data from 84 EMTs were collected on June 19, 2014. We administered a 64-item questionnaire about operating conditions and satisfaction in the clinical training program, and analyzed data (SPSS v 21.0). Results: The degree of performance in the field, importance of the item in the field, and level of difficulty were 3.36, 4.23, and 3.21, respectively. In the number of times that an item was directly performed according to the subjects' general characteristics a statistically difference in sex (p = .000), duty (p =.021), and total working time of trainees (p = .002). The subjects' total satisfaction score was 3.77. The difference in satisfaction according to the subjects' characteristics was a statistically significant in terms of sex (p = .016) and clinical training area (p = .005). Conclusion: A more efficient training system for hospital clinical training courses should be developed. The operation condition analyzed in this research may contribute to the improvement of the performance of EMTs.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the current state of emergency care for patients with anaphylaxis and to identify problems and areas for improvement in prehospital care. Methods: This study was conducted using 119 emergency running sheets and medical records of 109 patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis. Questionnaires were also given to emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and emergency physicians. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Prehospital emergency care included oxygen administration in 64.2%, an intravenous line in 15.6%, and medication injection in 11.0%. The most commonly administered medications were antihistamines in 66.7% and epinephrine in 8.3%. Of EMTs surveyed, 47.0% suggested an epinephrine injection and using direct medical control, while 53.8% of the emergency physicians suggested an epinephrine injection and using indirect medical control. Most emergency physicians 88.8% responded that epinephrine could be administered by EMTs. Conclusion: The data support epinephrine injection of patients with anaphylaxis by EMTs, but a larger sample size of EMTs is required. Education about the treatment of anaphylaxis should be improved for EMTs. The scope of paramedic responsibilities should also be redefined.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.51-68
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• 2015

Purpose: This study validated the influential relations between the effects of emergency care quality, credibility of 119 emergency medical technicians (119 EMTs), and perceived usefulness and attitude of emergency care, focusing on the moderating effect of protectors' characteristics (education, experience, age, and recognition of patient severity). Methods: This study was based on elaboration likelihood and technology acceptance models. In total, 172 protectors with experience in utilizing prehospital service were surveyed from April 1 to July 31, 2011. Results: The results showed that the emergency care quality and the credibility of 119 EMTs were the main determinants of the perceived usefulness and attitude of emergency care, irrespective of the protector's characteristics (p <.001). In addition, the findings showed that the protector's intention of emergency care had a moderating role. The impact of the quality of emergency care on its perceived usefulness was greater for high-level protectors (p <.001). By contrast, the impact of the credibility of 119 EMTs on the perceived usefulness of emergency care was greater for low-level protectors (p <.001). Conclusion: The protectors' characteristics have different influences on the relations between the effects of emergency care quality, the 119 EMT credibility, and the perceived usefulness and attitude of emergency care.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2017

Purpose: The study investigated the perception, report, and education of elder abuse in 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Korea. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to 110 EMTs in K city, and 100 answers were collected from June 1 to 10, 2015. The study instrument was perception regarding elder abuse and education inventory developed by Kim and Kim. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0 version. Results: The elder abuse perception score was 3.81 on a Likert 4-point scale. Physical abuse was the most common type, followed by verbal, financial, negligence, and emotional abuse. Most EMTs recognized that is important for the prevention of elder abuse, but most of them had no experience in reporting abuse. A majority of the EMTs had attended an elder abuse program and recognized the importsnce of such program. Conclusion: This study suggests the necessity of more targeted education of elder abuse prevention combined with family counseling methods and practical approach toward awareness of elder abuse.