• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the awareness and direction of paramedics work and image in hospitals. Methods: From April 16 to May 5, 2015, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 45 paramedics and 81 nurses working in emergency medical institutions. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 18.0. Results: The work of paramedics is evaluated to be highly worthy at the in-hospital level rather than at the injury first-aid treatment level. It appears that paramedics are often forced to do what their hospitals tell them to do concerning matters related to conflicts with them and nurses. Paramedics stated that they experienced greater mental stress than those engaging in other professions, a finding similar to those of other studies. There was no statistically significant difference in opinions between the two groups about a desirable direction for the development of first-aid services at hospitals. More than two thirds of the respondents said that paramedics should be given the right to enter acting check for patients. Conclusion: Paramedics work is shown to differ in the opinions of paramedics themselves and nurses. Paramedics need for reform is associated with expanding the work of the law.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2014

Purpose: The emergency medical service (EMS) system in Japan is similar to that in Korea. This study reviewed the development of paramedics who are major personnel in the respective EMS system of their country. Methods: We searched law for paramedics and publications in J-stage, MEDLINE and the webpage of Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Results: Paramedic training had started in Japan in 1991, and most paramedics were employed in fire departments. In Japan, ambulances belonging to fire department are staffed by a three-person unit, including at least one paramedic. Medical control advisory boards were established in all Japanese prefectures in 2003 with the purpose of upgrading the activities of ambulance personnel, including paramedics. The scope of paramedics' work has been widened owing to the continued efforts of medical control advisory boards. This allows them to perform invasive procedures including tracheal intubation, intravenous line placement, and epinephrine administration under medical control of a physician. Conclusion: As paramedics' responsibilities expand, further development of the paramedic role and an effective medical control advisory board system are imperative both Korea and Japan.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.133-153
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the status of emergency care of pregnant women transported by paramedics, to analyze the knowledge of paramedics related to pregnant women and their self-confidence in emergency care, and to provide foundational data to improve the quality of emergency care for pregnant women. Methods: We received a total of 1,798 rescue logs from 119 paramedics, who had transported pregnant women, in I city from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. For survey analysis, we used the 164 questionnaires received from these paramedics from June 15 to August 14, 2019. Results: The analysis of the rescue logs revealed that 85.5% (1,537 individuals) either had disease symptoms or were pregnant, whereas only 14.5% (261 individuals) had traffic accidents or accident-related injuries. The mean knowledge of the paramedics related to pregnant women was 23.73 (±2.98) points, and the mean self-confidence in emergency care was 3.19 (±0.74) points. Knowledge of the paramedics about pregnant women and their self-confidence in emergency care of these women had a statistically significant positive correlation (r=.306, p=.000). Conclusion: Paramedics should be provided theoretical and practical training through various programs about the emergency care of pregnant women.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-71
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the degree of paramedics' professional self-concept, empowerment, and burnout and to verify the effects of empowerment and burnout on their professional self-concept. Method: The study subjects were 116 in-hospital paramedics who completed a structured questionnaire. Data were collected between June 18 and 25, 2013. Results: The results were as follows. First, the paramedics' mean score for professional self-concept was 2.93 (range: 1-4), and the mean scores for empowerment and burnout were 2.87 (range: 1-4) and 2.48 (range: 1-5). Second, in terms of the general characteristics of the paramedics, professional self-concept showed significant differences based on sex, religion, work experience, and medical institution classification. Third, professional self-concept had a positive correlation with empowerment, and professional self-concept and empowerment had negative correlations with burnout. Fourth, the main variables affecting paramedics' professional self-concept were gender and total years of work experience. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop program to reduce paramedics' burnout and qualitatively improve paramedic services.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.39-51
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the influencing factors of turnover intention in hospital paramedics. The factors included the job condition, job stress, and turnover intention. Methods: The subjects were 200 paramedics in hospital. Data were analyzed using frequency, t-test or one way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis with SPSS WIN 20.0 program. Results: Job stress was 3.59 points; job condition, 2.96 points; turnover intention 3.64 points. When the job stress was high, the satisfaction with job condition was very low and the turnover intention increased. When the job satisfaction was high, turnover intention decreased. factors affecting the turnover intention were annual income, turnover frequency, workload, and working department, role conflict, and personal relationship. Conclusion: It is necessary to establish the job description of paramedics and improve the working condition in the hospitals.

• 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.15 no.2
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• pp.5-14
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify the legal concept of a license and a qualification for health care personnel. We analyze the appropriateness of the qualification for the first-class paramedics and the sufficiency of 3-year job experience in substitution for college level academic major. Method: We reviewed Laws on Healthcare which stipulate academic and career qualifications for healthcare personnel for whom college-level academic training and job experience to get a license. Results: There is no legal consideration which permits major and educational background substituted by job experience. Only third-class hygienist who graduated from a high school or the equivalent with 3 year job experience can apply for first-class hygienist' national license examination without educational requirements. However, it is nothing to compare with first-class paramedics because the work of hygienist is not directly related to patients care and there is no need of doctor's supervision for hygienist' job. Paramedics have a major role in saving emergency patients in making prompt decision, applying appropriate emergency treatment, securing intravenous route, managing intubation, applying defibrillator, and etc. Conclusion: Ministry of Health & Welfare should grant license to paramedics and annul replacement of academic major background. In addition, it is imperative to broaden the scope of paramedics' job so that they can guarantee patient's life saving in emergency situation with quality major curriculum of college level.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.19-31
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate disaster preparedness competence and disaster response competence of paramedics working in emergency medical centers operating a disaster medical assistance teams. Methods: Data of 174 emergency medical technician(EMT)-paramedics were collected from July 15 to August 14, 2018 at regional and local emergency medical centers that operate disaster medical assistant team. Analysis of the data was carried out with IBM SPSS statistics 24.0 software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The mean disaster preparedness competence score was $3.57{\pm}0.63$ (out of five). Participants' disaster preparedness competence significantly differed according to type of emergency medical center (p<.000), disaster education experience (p<.000), and education frequency (p=.001). The mean disaster response competence score was $4.09{\pm}0.57$ (out of five). Participants' disaster response competence significantly differed according to disaster education experience (p<.000) and medical assistance experience (p=.045). Conclusion: Emergency medical technician-paramedics without disaster training should first be provided with this training. Further, it is important for EMT-paramedics to know their disaster preparedness and response capacities and strengthen their shortcomings. It is also important to develop education and training programs that properly equip EMT-paramedics with practical competencies.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.159-168
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• 2020

This study was designed to ask experienced nurses at local and regional emergency medical centers for their awareness of paramedics and for their opinions on a paramedic's proper duties in emergency medical centers. The questionnaire consisted of 61 questions in total, including general questions, questions about awareness of paramedics, and questions about the duties of paramedics in emergency medical centers. For data analysis, SPSS 21.0 was applied to conduct frequency and correlation analyses. Regarding the duties of paramedics in emergency medical centers, there were positive answers in 33 questions of the questionnaire. The need for paramedics who work for emergency medical centers and the importance of their duties in emergency medical centers were high in the questionnaire. In addition, there were positive answers to the questions about the need for the professionalism of paramedics and the nees for increasing the number of paramedics in emergency medical centers. There was no difference between the groups.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.127-137
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the jobs of paramedics who are diversifying by deriving duties in accordance with occupational group-related laws, although they are not directly specified in the job description of paramedics or the Emergency Medical Act. Methods: This study selected four paramedics who randomly extracted participants that submitted consent to participate between March 2023 and October 2023. Their occupational groups were the Korea coast guard and air rescue, health centers, and industries; they met on September 19, 2023, and directly transcribed the recorded contents through a three-and-a-half-hour focus group interview for analysis. Results: In the results, although the job description was not directly specified in the job description or emergency medical law, five areas of work applied to practice were derived: "rescue," "administration," "education," "industry," and "tactical." Conclusion: To expand jobs according to the diversification of the occupational field of paramedics, job analysis of paramedics belonging to various occupations is required.