Factors Influencing Utilization of Emergency Medical Service of Severity and Critical Illness Patients in Ubonrathchathani Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study factors affecting the utilization of the emergency medical services (EMS) for the emergency and crisis patients in Ubon Ratchathani province. It was designed as a matched case-control retrospective analytical study between 15 October 2558- September 2559. Sample was 668 participants who were categorized into the study group (334 participants) and the control group (334 participants). The data were collected by using self-reporting questionnaire and qualification by index of congruence as over 0.5 and reliability in all of parts over 0.7; and were analyzed by percentage, mean, standard deviation, Odd ratio, and multivariate analysis (conditional multiple logistic regression with 95% confidence estimation at 0.05 significant level). Results showed that the study group and the control group were mostly male (53.8% in both groups), and majority age group was 52-73 years old. The main cause of emegencies was traffic accident (34.7% in the study froup and 47.9% in the control). There were 8 variables that could predict 59.7% of emgency medical services utilization which included habits, educa-tion level not over high school level, higher social support, higher perceived EMS utilization, self-confident, chronic illness, aging, and no personal vehicle. Such factors should be addressed in order to promote access to and utilization of emergency medical services in the province.