Factors affecting False Emergency Calls from the Viewpoint of People and Personnel of Medical Dispatch Center of Tabriz City 2018

Abstract

Abstract: Background and Aim: Based on the high number of false calls to emergency medical services (EMS) and related high false missions and the importance of timely emergency response of ambulances to real emergency calls and multiplied cost on the health system due to false missions, this study aimed to determine the factors affecting false calls from the viewpoint of the pre-hospital emergency personnel. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in Emergency Medical Center of Tabriz University of medical sciences in 2018. All of 147 EMS and 28 dispatch personnel completed the researcher-made questionnaire regarding the underlying causes of false calls. The questionnaire had 5 subscales of public education, sectorial letters and government instructions, social factors, telecommunication infrastructures and human resources. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software version 14 and descriptive statistics. Results: The most effective factor causing false calls was "public education" with a mean (SD) of 4.38 (0.50). The second most effective factor was the sectorial letters and government instructions subscale with a mean (SD) of 4.28 (.51). “Telecommunication infrastructure”, “social factors" and “human resources" subscales were respectively in the next ranks affecting on false calls from the perspective of participants. Conclusion: It seems that awareness of people through public media is necessary to be conceded as a policy in the programs of relevant institutions. It is also necessary to make changes in the infrastructure of the emergency system, with the help of telecommunication, and to provide services for personnel for better management of contacts