Factors Affecting Emergency Medical Service Operations according to the New Normal Standards in Chiang Rai Province
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The spread of COVID-19 in Thailand has affected emergency medical services, causes their need to adapt to the new normal standards of providing emergency care and preventing infection to personnel. The medical care standard modifying involved the aspects of structure, personnel and patient care system.
OBJECTIVES: (1) to study the characteristics of emergency medical service (EMS) practice according to the new normal standard in Chiangrai Province; and (2) to identify the influence of personnel factors and organizational factors on the EMS practice
METHODS: This study was an analytical survey. The Population was 2,504 emergency medical personnel in Chiangrai province. The calculated sample of 300 persons was randomly stratified. The tool was a questionnaire with accuracy between 0.70-0.92. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.
RESULTS: In the overview, emergency medical practices, according to the new normal standards in Chiangrai province was at the level of every time or as usually practiced; the new normal standard practice before operation was at the level of almost always performed; during the operation was at the level of every time, or normally performed; and after the operation was at the level of every time or as usually practiced. Factors influencing EMS practice according to the new normal standard in Chiangrai Province were 8 variables, ranked from highest to lowest positive influence, were competence and skills in patient care, organizational factors in organizational planning, reporting, information management, support, communication and female factors, respectively; the organizational factors in terms of financial management had a negative influence; they could predict 65.60 % of EMS practice scores based on the new normal standard.
Conclusion and recommendations: Factors affecting EMS according to the new normal standards In Chiang Rai province included 8 variables; competency and skills, female gender, organization, planning, reporting, information management, communication, financial management, and support. Thus, emergency operations improvement should include a comprehensive development planning on these issues at the individual level, and the corporate and provincial policy levels.
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