• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.35-49
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a resilience measurement scale and verify its validity and reliability. Methods: This was a methodological study. The preliminary items of the scale were derived from literature reviews and in-depth interviews. The data were collected from October 30, 2017 to January 20, 2018, and paramedics working in hospitals or fire departments were selected using convenience sampling. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 213 paramedics in Korea. Results: Through content validity, item analysis and exploratory factor analysis, a total of 6 factors and 26 items were extracted, and the total variance was 67.12%. Factor 1 was "self-efficacy" (11 items), factor 2 was "internal control" (5 items), factor 3 was "empowerment" (2 items), factor 4 was "interpersonal capability", (3 items), factor 5 was "social support" (2 items), and factor 6 was "adaptation and coping" (3 items). Conclusion: This is the first scale developed in Korea to measure the resilience of paramedics. In future, this scale of this study will contribute to developing a resilience improvement program based on understanding the resilience level of paramedics.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.117-138
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was performed targeted to paramedic and doctors, to examine the frequency, importance, and admissibility of the tasks of paramedics, and to establish as a basis for expanding their business scope. Methods: The subjects were 282 paramedics and 58 doctors, and the study was performed from October 20 to November 19, 2014. The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS/WIN 20.0. Results: The results showed the difference between the legal business scope of paramedics and the actually performed work. The frequently covered areas were trauma, cardiac arrest, and respiratory care; however, severity classifications were the most important. Concerning drug administration, epinephrine administration seemed to be the most necessary. Conclusions: The findings of this study can be used as basic data to broaden the capacity building and business scope of paramedics. Furthermore, to increase the resuscitation rate of emergency patients, the various tasks of paramedics must be incorporated, and these should be supported by laws and institutions.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.77-90
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to assess and improve the work scope of emergency medical technicians (EMT)-paramedics in emergency medical centers. Methods: Data were collected from February 1 to 14, 2018. The questionnaire comprised a total of 56 questions: eight general questions, six questions about the recognition of EMT-paramedics in emergency medical centers, and 42 questions about their work. Data were analyzed via frequency and correlation analysis using SPSS version 18.0. Results: Regarding the work of EMTs in emergency medical centers, positive opinions were found in 23 items, negative opinions in 4 items, and both positive and negative opinions in 9 items. Regarding the questions about the necessity, work importance, professionalism, and the need for an increase4 in EMR-paramedics, depending on respondents' career, there was no statistically significant difference between the group of beginners and the group comprising beginners and that of experienced workers (p>.200). Conclusion: The expert survey revealed that the work performance of EMT-paramedics in regional emergency medical centers was trusted and showed positive results of improvement and expansion.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.89-106
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• 2020

Purpose: This study attempts to improve the status of emergency care for major trauma patients transferred by 119 paramedics by analyzing the status of emergency care and the obstacles to the spinal motion restriction (SMR) for major trauma patients. Methods: A total of 600 rescue logs were collected from major trauma patients transported by 119 paramedics in the C fire department from Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2017. And then, 280 questionnaires were collected from the 119 paramedics in C fire department from May 3 to Jun. 3, 2019. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 version. Results: Among 499 spinal motion restriction adaptive patients, the spinal motion restriction rate was 51.1% (255 individuals). Lack of human resources and quality control problems were among the obstacles to spinal motion restriction. Conclusion: The 119 paramedics should improve their activeness and skills in performing emergency care, and since training and experience are of crucial importance, they should expand various education systematized according to demand.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.105-124
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to identify the present handover status and the difference in performance and importance of handover between 119 paramedics and emergency department (ED) staff to improve the quality of handover. Methods: The study involved a questionnaire survey of 171 paramedics and 108 ED staff in four regions from August 28 to September 23, 2020. Subsequently, 279 questionnaires were collected and 277 copies were used for this study. Data were analyzed by SPSS 26.0 version. Results: The results showed that most of the paramedics and the ED staff rely on memory and verbally handover, without formal education about the handover process. And there were significant differences in performance in important information of prehospital. Some of the handover items were a difference in performance and importance between the paramedics and the ED staff. Conclusion: The unified education based on required and optional items is necessary to reduce the loss of information between the paramedics and ED staff, and standardized tools need to be developed in the handover process.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2003

The purposes of this study which was conducted by applying three projection formulae to the data from admission quota for paramedic of the Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development the number of ambulances the number of emergency medical centers of the Ministry of Health & Welfare and rate of successful candidates of annual report of the National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board were to find out demand and supply of paramedic from 2002 to 2045 and to expand scope of practice of paramedic in Korea. The conclusions from this study were summarized as follows; (1) The simple formulae derived from the projection formula of the Economic Planning Board were applied under the present Emergency Medical Services Act including qualifying over 3-years experienced EMT-Basic for paramedic examinee, stationing paramedic or EMT-Basic or physician or nurse per ambulance, stationing paramedic or EMT-Basic per emergency medical center and under the amended Emergency Medical Services Act including qualifying only paramedic graduate for paramedic examinee, stationing 4.5 paramedics per ambulance, stationing 10 to 2 paramedics per emergency medical center. (2) It was estimated that on the American basis of 5.6 EMTs per 10,000 in 1996, the number of paramedics under the present act will reach the basis before 2020, the number of paramedics under the amended act will reach the basis about 2040. (3) It was estimated that on the basis of 22,000 paramedics demanded from the number of ambulances, the number of emergency medical centers in 2001, the number of paramedics under the present act will reach the basis before 2015, the number of paramedics under the amended act will reach the basis about 2030. (4) There was relationship between requirements for emergency medical centers scope of practice of paramedic in the act and demand-supply of paramedic, this necessitates surveys, studies, amendment of the act, legalization for expanded scope of practice of paramedic including EMD, instructor, teacher of safety. (5) This study which includes only expanded scope of practice of paramedic and projection for paramedic in the act needs complementary studies such as decision-making process in health manpower policy and so on.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.86-97
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to assess exposure to traumatic events, knowledge and attitudes concerning post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the level of resilience among nurses and paramedics working in emergency departments. Methods: Data were collected from May 22 to June 12, 2022, using a self-administered survey questionnaire. The participants comprised 135 nurses and 80 paramedics working in emergency departments. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, a t-test, and an analysis of variance with Scheffé's test. Results: Compared with emergency room nurses, paramedics were more positive about the government's spending on job opportunities for people with PTSD. There were no significant differences in attitude regarding government strategies and people with PTSD between nurses and paramedics. Paramedics had higher scores on the effective treatment for PTSD, while emergency room nurses showed higher scores on effective psychotherapy. General knowledge of PTSD differed according to sex (t=-2.33, p=.021) and education level (F=3.21, p=.042). Resilience scores differed significantly according to sex (t=2.02, p=.045), education level (F=4.10, p=.018), self-reported economic state (F=10.34, p<.001), and self-reported health (F=11.57, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings support that emergency department nurses and paramedics are in need of self-care programs to support their mental health and indicate that intervention programs should be developed to enhance resilience in emergency department professionals.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2011

Purpose & Method : This purpose of this paper was to show the importance of paramedics. The trauma patients receiving a temporary treatment from emergency medical technician filled out a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of the satisfaction for EMS. The data collection was from October 23 to November 12, 2006. The patients were in the Kyeonggi province hospital having more than 500 beds. At the time of discharge, the questionnaire forms were distributed. Results : Males showed higher satisfaction than females when they had a paramedics, and this indicated statistically significant difference(p<.05). The groups showing higher satisfaction for EMT 1 practice included patients over 40 years old, educated under high school, and income over 2 million won. Before the trauma patients were treated, they were satisfied with short waiting time less than 10 minutes. They showed higher satisfaction within 2 hours duration. Conclusion : Summing up the above result, it was found that the group treated by an emergency medical technician showed higher satisfaction than the group not treated by an emergency medical technician. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange paramedics in emergency medical centers to improve satisfaction with emergency medical services. And since it is a crucial factor that affects patient's satisfaction significantly, it is urgent to increase the roles of emergency medical technicians and lay the foundation for legal institutions.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.51-65
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate experiences of violence with patients or family members by paramedics working at emergency rooms. Methods: A questionnaire was administered from June 1 to 31, 2017 to 225 paramedics working at 27 emergency medical centers. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS statistics ver 24.0 program. Results: Within the past year, 208(92.9%) of 224 participants experienced violence among whom 202(90.2%) experienced verbal abuse, 193(86.2%) experienced physical threat, 89(39.7%) experienced physical violence, and 52(23.2%) experienced sexual violence. The level of violence response depending on the overlapping experience of violence type showed significant difference from emotional response (p= .001), social response (p= .001), physical response (p= .004), and overall violence response (p= .001). Conclusion: In conclusion, paramedics are frequently exposed to violence in the emergency rooms, of which they mostly experience verbal abuse. In addition, because the reporting system in the event of violence and the coping process are not well-informed, paramedics are unable to sufficiently utilize the reporting system and programs established within the institution. Therefore, the support of the legal system is needed to create a safe working environment for the medical staff who work in the emergency medical centers.