• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.19-35
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to improve the quality of prehospital emergency care for elderly patients by determining current prehospital care status based on run sheets and level of knowledge, and prehospital care confidence toward the elderly through questionnaires answered by 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: This study was conducted with 4,946 elderly patients who were transferred to the hospital by 119 ambulances in D city from March 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014. This study was a descriptive study of 119 run sheets. The questionnaire was completed by 160 EMTs working in D city. All data were analyzed by using SPSS 21.0. Results: 74.2% was due to disease among the 4,946 elderly patients who were transferred by 119 ambulances, and a rest was due to injury. The mean knowledge score of the 119 EMTs regarding elderly patients was low. Their confidence on prehospital care of the elderly patients statistically significantly differed according to career at hospital and education. Conclusion: Theoretical knowledge, education on prehospital care of the elderly, and repeated technical prehospital care education and training accompanied by feedback assessment by 119 EMTs are needed.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2020

Purpose: Stroke is a time-sensitive disease that could have reduced complications and mortality with timely diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to analyze the causes of delay in detecting the clinical signs and symptoms of stroke. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed the emergency medical services reports of suspected stroke patients with positive predictive values on the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale. The study was conducted in Daejeon, Republic of Korea from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017. Results: Prolonged prehospital time was associated with high blood pressure, history of cerebrovascular disease, and incidences during daily activities, and sleep. High blood pressure and complications from a previous stroke strongly associated with the prolonged stroke-detection phase (p<.05). Total prehospital time was shortened when patients had evident stroke symptoms, such as decreased level of consciousness, dysarthria, and hemiplegia (p<.05). There was no significant difference in gender or age as a factor that delayed the total prehospital time of the suspected stroke patients. Conclusion: Many patients did not recognize the early clinical symptoms and signs of a stroke. Furthermore, risk factors, such as high blood pressure and history of stroke, prolonged the total prehospital time. Therefore, we need targeted interventions that educate about warning symptoms of stroke, along with emphasis on the importance of emergency calls to substantially reduce the prehospital delays.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2006

Purpose: There has been an increase in the number of prehospital cardiac arrests due to the increasing number of cardiovascular diseases and the increase in the average age of the population. We performed this study to identify the proper resuscitation technique and AED to be used to increase the survival rate in prehospital cardiac arrests. Methods: This studied 159 victims with prehospital cardiac arrests(VF or VT rhythm) by EMT's Reports from January to August, 2005. Results: 108 of 159 victims(67.9%) were shocked by AED. Eighty of 159 victims(50.9%) were recorded with AED shock in prehospital cardiac arrests. A number of shocks is averaged 2.19; 46.2% of one-shock and 86.1% of 1-3 shock. EMS first-tier response interval from time of dispatch to scene arrival was 5.88 minutes, from scene arrival to scene start was 7.36 minutes, from scene start to hospital admission was 9.91 minutes and from scene arrival to AED shock was 6.84 minutes. EMT provided advanced care to prehospital cardiac arrests: 97.5% in CPR, 10.1% in advanced airway management, 67.9% in AED shock. Conclusion: With the increase in cardiovascular disease and old age, the number of prehospital cardiac arrests has risen gradually. However, there were lack of CPR by bystander, defibrillation and advanced cardiac life support(ACLS) in prehospital stage. To improve the adequacy of basic life support and to increase the performance of ACLS, especially AED, we must create challenges to develop new protocols in prehospital care.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.111-118
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• 2007

Purpose : It was to present strategies on activation of prehospital medical direction in Korea. Methods : This study was conducted by analysing some papers on prehospital medical direction and statistical data from the National Emergency Management Agency. Results : There was no active application of medical direction methods such as Priority Dispatch System, Pre-Arrival Instructions, System Status Management and no data on prehospital medical direction. To estimate direct medical control on emergency patients who were sorted by EMTs in 2006 was only 2.5%. Conclusion : To improve prehospital medical direction, it needed to applicate data collecting & using system and in-direct & direct medical control by medical doctor.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 2011

Purpose : Prehospital emergency care for shockable rhythm is one of major concerns of emergency medical services. But, in Korea, prehospital medical service systems are not yet well established. We tried to offer one of the fundamental data to develop of these system. Method : After application of exclusion criteria, 200 patients who had shockable rhythm from January to December, 2008 were included in this study. Restrospective review of Prehospital care Reports of these patients was done. Result : Total 200 cases of shockable rhythm and prehospital arrest were analyzed. The rates of assessment of vital signs were 89.0%, the rate of level of consiousness was 99.5%. Just 6.0% were communicated with medical director providing the prehospital care. The frequency of defibrillation was performed 58.5%. Conclusion : Survival rate was higher in defibrillation group than that of nondefibrillation group(20.5% vs 2.4%, p=0.000).

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2005

Purpose: There has been an increase in the number of prehospital cardiac arrests due to increases in both cardiovascular diseases and the average age of the population, We performed this study to identify the proper resuscitation technique and AED to be used to increase the survival rate in prehospital cardiac arrest. Methods: We studied 57 victims with prehospilal cardiac arrest by EMT's Reports form January to December, 2004. Results: Fifty-seven of 92 victims were trasported with ECG in prehospital cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation(VF)/ ventricular tachycardia was 56.2%, asystole was 33,3%, and pulseless electrical activity(PEA.) was 10.5% in initial rhythm analysis, There weren't attempt CPR in 14.0%. Twenty of the 32(62.5%) were shocked by AED for the adequacy method. There were no statistical differences the transportation time. Conclusion: With the increase in cardiovascular disease and old age, the number out-of-hospital cardiac arrests has risen accordingly. However, there were lack of CPR by bystander, defibrillation, advanced cardiac life support(ACLS) in prehospital stage. To improve the adequancy of basic life support and to increase the performance of ACLS, especially AED, we must create challenges to develop new protocols in prehospital care.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.19-33
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to improve the quality of prehospital care provided to infants and toddlers (preschoolers) based on questionnaire findings. Methods: A total of 1,634 running sheets from 119 centers of D city from patients older than 1 month and less than 7 years of age from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 were reviewed for 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) activity analysis. And a self-reported questionnaire about knowledge and competency in prehospital care of preschoolers was completed by 159 EMTs at fire stations in D city. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Results: Of 1,634 patients, 58.6% were call to 119 due to disease, 33.8% due to injuries and 7.5% due to traffic accident. Knowledge and confidence in treating preschoolers was significantly higher among paramedic EMTs than basic EMTs. The 119 EMTs surveyed indicated that training for preschooler prehospital care was most needed. Conclusion: In order to provide high quality prehospital care for preschoolers transported to emergency rooms, it is necessary to equip ambulances with the proper equipment. In addition, EMTs should be provided educational opportunities and clinical training.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2009

Purpose: This study shows the prehospital emergency nursing practices, and analyzes them associated with their individual characteristics and job conditions. Method: Based on a survey of the National Emergency Medical Center in Korea(2008), principal components were extracted from 7 prehospital emergency nursing practices by factor analysis, and some regression analyses of principal components(CPR-AED and V/S-I.V.) were executed on individual characteristics and job conditions. Results: The PENs gave themselves higher order ratings for vital sign check, airway management for loss of consciousness patients, CPR for suspicious cardiac arrest, keeping vein open for shock patients, AED for abnormal pulse rate, AED for suspicious cardiac arrest, and AED for loss of consciousness. Age and duty periods were statistically significant influential factors on the CPR-AED component. Conclusion: The results indicate that the PENs were competent in overall prehospital emergency activities and procedures even some weak self-evaluations, and that the standard curriculum and practice standard for prehospital nursing should be developed in order to increase nursing leadership in prehospital emergency settings.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.127-134
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• 2003

An analysis was performed to evaluate the prehospital advanced emergency care in Emergency Medical Service system(EMS) through the review of the 119 transfort chart of 190 patients who visited to Jecheon Seoul hospital emergency center at Chungbuk Jecheon via 119 system during the period from October 2002 to September 2003. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Among 190 patients, male were 127(66.8%) and female were 63(33.2%) and nontraumatic patients were 81(42.6%) and traumatic patients were 109(57.4%). 2. The analysis of prehospital care by Emergency Medical Technician(EMT) revealed that Airway maintenance and keeping oral airway(37.7%), oxygen supply(75.9%), Tourniquett or MAST(18.9%), Immobilization of neck or spine(94.7%), Immobilization of extremities (51.4%), wound bandage and dressing(25.0%), BCLS(12.1%) and Application of AED(2 patients). 3. The analysis of prehospital care by EMT revealed prehospital care was limited to keep of intubation or LMA, medication and IV insertion, insertion of gastric tube and ACLS. 4. There was no case of the notification to medical institute or consultation to doctor.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 2006

Purpose: We studied that EMT took care in prehospital care of cardiac arrest patients by "the chain of survial", we need the data about treatment of EMT in prehospital care of cardiac arrest patients. and then we want to educate EMT for their emergency skill and knowledge of prehospital care of cardiac arrest patients. Method: We studied 162 cardiac arrest patients were transported by EMT in Jecheon province, Chingbuk. Results: 1. Stage of Early Access 96.9% of people who related the cardiac arrest patients used the Jecheon 119 Rescue at their emergency situation. 2 Stage of Early CPR The EMT supported keeping of airway to 148 of 162 cardiac arrest patients. Artificial respiration was 120 of 162 cardiac arrest patients and chest compression was 119 of 162 cardiac arrest patients. 3. Stage of Early AED There were shocked 6 cardiac arrest patients but weren't shocked 156 victims of 162 cardiac arrest patients by AED. 4. Stage of Early ACLS There were reported 3 of 162 cardiac arrest patients. to Doctor or Hospital Emergency Center for medical direction to EMT in prehospital area. There is no advanced airway, IV insertion and medication to the prehospital cardiac arrest patients.