The Study of Factors Related to Use Emergency Medical Services, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

        This retrospective analytical research aimed to study, 1) the situation of using emergency medical service, and 2) the factors related to use emergency medical service of the government hospitals in Ratchaburi province. Data were collected from 398 emergency patients that attended emergency room since year 2018. Samples were collected by using stratified random sampling. The research instruments were questionnaires of the situation of using emergency medical service, perception and expectation toward emergency medical service of emergency patients. The data analyze the frequency distribution, percentage, standard deviation and chi-square test. The results were as follows;           

        1. The reasons for not using emergency medical service such as they used a private car (57.54%), and they was in a state of shock and forgot to call the emergency medical service (26.88%).The average score of perception toward emergency medical service was at a good level (M = 4.34, SD = .71), and the average expectation score was at a very good level (M = 4.52, SD = .71).

1. The chi-square test reveal the having a private care, having a chronic disease, and perception toward emergency medical service were significantly associated with the use of emergency medical service among emergency patients (p < .05). Therefore, the expectation score was not correlated with the use of emergency medical service (p = .325).

       This research finding could be used for all level of emergency medical operations units should be provided information on the recognition of emergency medical services to the public, especially in patients with underlying diseases. In addition, prepare the availability of emergency services in both equipment and service personnel.