J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2015 Dec;26(6):598-604. 10.0000/jksem.2015.26.6.598.

Satisfaction, and Factors Influencing Satisfaction, with Internal Environment and Safety of Emergency Medical Service Ambulances in Korea: Pilot Study of Patients and Guardians

• Jeon J
• Lim TH
• Lee S
• Oh J
• Kang H
• Ahn C
• Lee J

• KMID: 2191673
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2015.26.6.598

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to assess the satisfaction, and factors influencing the satisfaction, of patients and guardians with the internal environment and safety of ambulances in Korea.
METHODS
Participants were patients and guardians who were transported by public emergency medical service ambulance to an emergency medical center in June 2015. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The degree of satisfaction with the ambulance was categorized as satisfaction (Likert scale 4 or 5) or dissatisfaction (Likert scale 1 or 2). The questionnaires comprised 3 categories: 1) demographics, 2) internal environment (space, light, temperature, humidity, soundproof, and odor), and 3) safety (vibration, leaning of body, and falling objects).
RESULTS
Among 84 cases, 80.5% of patients and 83.7% of guardians gave positive responses regarding general satisfaction with the internal environment of the ambulance, but these percentages were lower regarding adequacy of space and light. Four factors had a statistically significantly influence on the degree of satisfaction: 1) sex of guardian regarding adequacy of space, 2) number of guardians regarding general satisfaction, 3) severity of patient regarding guardian's satisfaction with space, 4) diagnosis of patient (trauma vs non-trauma) regarding vibration during transport (all p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Overall, patients and guardians were satisfied with the internal environment and safety of ambulances except for adequacy of space and light.

Keyword

Patient satisfaction; Ambulances; Emergency medical services; Surveys and questionnaiers

MeSH Terms

Ambulances*
Demography
Diagnosis
Emergencies*
Emergency Medical Services*
Humans
Humidity
Korea*
Patient Satisfaction
Pilot Projects*
Vibration