Earticle

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the correlation between injury and injury severity score (ISS) in geriatric traffic accident patients transported by 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: The subjects were 240 traffic accident patients over 65 years old transported by 119 rescue services emergency departments in Busan from January 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015. Results: ISS increased in motorcycle traffic accidents (p=.026), truck injuries (p=.005), and head and neck injury (p<.001). Vital signs were evaluated by 119 rescue EMT. ISS increased in cases of unresponsive unconsciousness (p<.001), hypotension (p=.001), and bradycardia (p<.001). The need for bleeding control and dressing by the EMTs increased ISS significantly (p=.022). Conclusion: In the initial evaluation of geriatric traffic patients, ISS can increase in motor cycle accidents and truck injuries. Due to high ISS, patients with head and neck injury, chest injury, hypotension, or tachycardia should be transferred to advanced level hospitals.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the continuous effect of advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) simulation education according to Felder-Silverman learning style. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 94 students of emergency medical technology and nursing. There were 50 female students (53.2%) and 88 students (93.6%) had basic life support certification. The study instruments included knowledge, performance, and confidence. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 20.0. Results: The learning style consisted of reflective type (51.1%), sensory type (76.6%), visual type (63.8%), and sequential type (64.9%). There was a significant difference in continuous effect on performance by learning type. Conclusion: It is necessary to identify the learning style of students before simulation education in order to maintain continuous effect of ACLS education.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to establish an education curriculum subject program design for the department of emergency medical technology based on National Competency Standards (NCS) key competencies. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 180 level 1 emergency medical technicians in K area from June 15 to 20, 2016. Except for 14 incomplete questionnaires, 141 data were analyzed. The study instrument included general characteristics of the subjects (7 items) and importance and satisfaction levels for 10 key competencies including 34 items of subfactors by a Likert 5-point scale using Borich Needs Assessment Model. A locus for focus model (LF model) was used to derive the top priority key competencies for the education curriculum. Data were analyzed by SPSS v. 20.0. Results: The order of education needs of the program included interpersonal competency (1.442), communication competency (1.384), problem solving competency (1.185) and professional ethics competency (1.149). In the LF model, the required jey competencies included interpersonal competency, communication competency, professional ethics competency, and problem solving competency. Conclusion: The study results coincided with standard education curriculum guidelines. Our resluts can provide a valid reference for the department of emergency medical technology.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a pathogenic bacteria filtration instrument for infection prevention during mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Methods: Two kinds of face shields were used for the study. One rescuer blew the filter through a bag valve mask and the filter was then cultured for bacteria. The mask was tested both on the front and back side. Results: Two kinds of face shields including the KF shield and CM shield were tested. The KF shield has received national certification and it prevented transmission of bacterial infection but the CM shield showed the opposite result and did not prevent bacterial transmission. Pathogenic bacteria were found on the back of the CM shield. Conclusion: A certified face shield is very important to prevent bacterial transmission. Face shields should be demonstrated and used by paramedic students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B among paramedic students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 395 paramedic students in Daejeon and Chungnam from May 10 to June 10, 2016. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects (9 items), knowledge of hepatitis B (20 items), and attitudes towards hepatitis B (7 items). Data were analyzed by t test, ANOVA, post hoc Duncan test, and Pearson’s correlation analysis using SPSS v. 23.0. Results: The knowledge of hepatitis B was 10.52(±5.18) out of 20 points and was significantly correlated with grade, vaccination, or antibody-positive irerspective of education. The positive attitude toward hepatitis B was 3.15(±.43) and there was a significant correlation with family history irrespective of education. There was a statistically positive correlation between the knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B (r=.104, p=.039). Conclusion: Precise knowledge delivery and full understanding of hepatitis B should be incorporated into the education of paramedic students. Active infection control by emergency medical technicians should be maintained by hepatitis B prevention practices.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors influencing evidence-based fall prevention nursing performance of hospital nurses. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 344 nurses from three general hospitals from January 20 to March 10, 2013. The study instruments included general characteristics of the subjects, and awareness and performance of fall prevention. Data were analyzed by t test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression using SPSS v. 20.0. Results: There were statistically significant differences in awareness and performance according to age, marital status, clinical experiences, workplace, experience of fall prevention education, knowledge of fall prevention, compliance with fall prevention, attention level toward prevention, recognition level of potential falls, nurse responsibility for falls, importance of fall prevention, efforts level for fall prevention, and awareness score of falls prevention. There was a positive correlation among awareness and performance of fall prevention. Based on the multiple regression analysis, compliance with fall prevention, efforts level for fall prevention, and awareness score of falls prevention were significant predictors for performance of fall prevention. The explanation power of the model was 64.1%. Conclusion: The findings revealed the need to develop an effective nursing intervention to improve hospital nurses’ performance for fall prevention.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the education retention effect of endotracheal and laryngeal tube intubation using a manikin study. Methods: The study consisted of measuring intubation time, intubation success rate, and confidence of intubation after education. The evaluation of the education was performed 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 24 weeks after education and skill tests. The study subjects were 48 paramedic students of third and fourth grade. Results: There was no significant difference in endotracheal intubation time but the time spent performing laryngeal tube intubation significantly increased over time (p<.000). The intubation success rate of endotracheal and laryngeal tube intubation was 100% in the 24th week, and there was no significant difference in time spent performing the intubation. The students’ confidence in endotracheal (p<.023) and laryngeal tube intubation (p<.001) decreased significantly from the second week to the 24th week.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the career obstacle factors and career identity according to career choice type among paramedic students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 234 paramedic students in C area from August 25 to September 3, 2015. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, career obstacle factors, career identity, and types of career choice. The data were analyzed by t test, ANOVA, post hoc Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS v. 20.0. Results: Career obstacle factors and career identity of paramedic students had significant differences on motivation of university choice, major satisfaction, and job preference. A stable type of career choice showed a significantly lower score for career obstacle factors and a higher score for career identity. Career identity had a strongly positive relationship with major satisfaction and had a negative relationship with career obstacle factors. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the main variables affecting career identity were types of career choice, motivation of university choice, major satisfaction, and career obstacle factors. The explanatory power was 58.0%.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing death anxiety, hospices knowledge, and attitude towards end-of-life care among paramedic students. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 196 paramedic students in D university college in J city from November 2011 to November 2014. The study instruments included death anxiety, hospices knowledge, and attitude towards end-of-life care. Data were analyzed by t test, ANOVA, post hoc Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation test, and stepwise multiple regression analysis using SPSS v. 20.0. Results: According to a stepwise regression on the factors influencing attitudes towards end-of-life care, 80.4% of variance (F=161.360, p<.001) was explained by experience of death, hospices knowledge, disappearance of death anxiety, satisfaction with relationships (≥2) and student attitude toward end-of-life care. In addition, 44.1% of the variance (F=39.434, p<.001) was explained by experience of death, satisfaction with relationship(≤4), warning of others about death anxiety, and family attitude towards end-of-life care. Conclusion: The attitude towards end-of-life care was influenced by hospices knowledge and death anxiety in paramedic students. It is necessary to provide training in understanding attitudes towards death anxiety and end-of-life care. An effective educational program should be developed and implemented among paramedic students to improve their awareness of death and anxiety hospices knowledge.