Alanazy, Ahmed Ramdan M; Wark, Stuart; Fraser, John; Nagle, Amanda

Author(s)

Alanazy, Ahmed Ramdan M

Wark, Stuart

Fraser, John

Nagle, Amanda

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

Background: Callouts resulting in patient nontransportation can impact the overall quality of prehospital Emergency Medical Service (EMS), as resources in health care are finite. While some studies have investigated the causes of nontransportation, few have examined whether there are differences between urban and rural patients. Similarly, there has been limited research focused on rural EMS in locations such as the Middle East. Objectives: This study investigated EMS cases that resulted in nontransportation in the urban and rural areas of the Riyadh region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 800 (400 rural and 400 urban) patient records was undertaken, using 12 months (January 1 to December 31, 2017) of data from the Saudi Red Crescent EMS. A random sampling method was used to select ambulance records from the 78 urban and rural EMS stations in the Riyadh region, with demographic data and reasons for patient nontransport analyzed comparatively. Results: A total of 310 cases were nontransported (39%) (rural: 146; urban = 164). The highest rates of nontransportation cases were of medical and trauma callouts (44.6% and 39.6%, respectively), which was consistent in both areas. The most common reason for nontransportation in both urban and rural areas was refusal of treatment and transportation (66.5% and 59.9%, respectively). Further, 10 patients were treated on-scene and released by rural EMS, while no urban patients were treated and released. Overall, the case presentations of nontransported patients did not differ significantly between both areas, and it was found that gender, age, and geographic location were not predictors for nontransportation. Conclusions: The high rate of nontransportation, particularly in medical and trauma callouts, indicates that a review of current EMS protocols may be required, along with consideration of relevant community education programs.

Citation

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 9(1), p. 38-44

ISSN

2321-4856

1658-631X

Pubmed ID

33519342

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/30102

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer - Medknow Publications and Media Pvt Ltd

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Title

Nontransported Cases after Emergency Medical Service Callout in the Rural and Urban Areas of the Riyadh Region

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Alanazy, Ahmed Ramdan M Wark, Stuart Fraser, John Nagle, Amanda
Publication Date	2021
Abstract	<b>Background</b>: Callouts resulting in patient nontransportation can impact the overall quality of prehospital Emergency Medical Service (EMS), as resources in health care are finite. While some studies have investigated the causes of nontransportation, few have examined whether there are differences between urban and rural patients. Similarly, there has been limited research focused on rural EMS in locations such as the Middle East.<br/> <b>Objectives</b>: This study investigated EMS cases that resulted in nontransportation in the urban and rural areas of the Riyadh region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.<br/> <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional study of 800 (400 rural and 400 urban) patient records was undertaken, using 12 months (January 1 to December 31, 2017) of data from the Saudi Red Crescent EMS. A random sampling method was used to select ambulance records from the 78 urban and rural EMS stations in the Riyadh region, with demographic data and reasons for patient nontransport analyzed comparatively.<br/> <b>Results</b>: A total of 310 cases were nontransported (39%) (rural: 146; urban = 164). The highest rates of nontransportation cases were of medical and trauma callouts (44.6% and 39.6%, respectively), which was consistent in both areas. The most common reason for nontransportation in both urban and rural areas was refusal of treatment and transportation (66.5% and 59.9%, respectively). Further, 10 patients were treated on-scene and released by rural EMS, while no urban patients were treated and released. Overall, the case presentations of nontransported patients did not differ significantly between both areas, and it was found that gender, age, and geographic location were not predictors for nontransportation.<br/> <b>Conclusions</b>: The high rate of nontransportation, particularly in medical and trauma callouts, indicates that a review of current EMS protocols may be required, along with consideration of relevant community education programs.
Citation	Saudi Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 9(1), p. 38-44
ISSN	2321-4856 1658-631X
Pubmed ID	33519342
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/30102
Publisher	Wolters Kluwer - Medknow Publications and Media Pvt Ltd
Rights	Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
Title	Nontransported Cases after Emergency Medical Service Callout in the Rural and Urban Areas of the Riyadh Region
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Nontransported Cases after Emergency Medical Service Callout in the Rural and Urban Areas of the Riyadh Region

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