Earticle

Purpose: This study investigated the effectiveness of education regarding cuff pressure following endotracheal tube intubation using a quasi-experimental design with a pre- and posttest non-equivalent control group. Methods: A total of 78 students from two universities participated in an education intervention on the importance of cuff pressure after endotracheal tube intubation between October and December, 2016. The intervention lasted 40 minutes. Data were collected from each student before the intervention and one week following the intervention. Analyses were conducted using chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, and analysis of covariance. Results: A total of 38 students were assigned to the experimental group and 40 to the control group. The educational intervention of cuff pressure following endotracheal tube intubation was associated with prevention of possible complications from excessive cuff pressure (F=121.02, p<.001). Conclusion: Training with a pressure gauge and an intubation manikin is necessary to determine the appropriate cuff pressure in the intubation protocol of the practical examination in the emergency medical technology.

Purpose: This study describes current curricula for paramedic students in South Korea and proposes a standardization of the curriculum. Methods: Data were collected from 38 colleges and universities from March 1 to 31, 2016. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS 23.0. Results: The proposed standard curriculum was below. Requisite liberal arts consisted of 2 subjects and 6 credits including biomedical ethics, communications and human relationships. Common major subjects were composed of 6 areas, 22 subjects, and 78 credits. The areas of basic medicine consisted of 6 subjects and 16 credits including medical terminology. Introduction to paramedicine consisted of 3 subjects and 7 credits. Emergency patient management consisted of 2 subjects and 9 credits. Particulars to paramedic care consisted of 8 subjects and 31 credits. The law area consisted of 1 subject and 3 credits. Other major areas consisted of 2 subjects and 12 credits including integrated simulation and physician assistance. Common field practice area consisted of 3 to 4 subjects and 9 to 12 credits. Conclusion: It is important to establish and adapt a standardized curriculum for paramedic students in order to ensure competence and to provide high quality emergency medical services.

Purpose: This study measured awareness of automated external defibrillators (AED) among students majoring in health-related versus non-health-related fields. Methods: A total of 577 students filled out a questionnaire on awareness of AEDs between June 12 and June 28, 2017. Using SPSS 23.0, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t-tests. Results: In response to a question about awareness of AED, 25.0% of students majoring in a health-related and 38.6% of those majoring in a non-health-related field answered on “I have seen or heard” and “I have no idea”. In response to a question on perception on AED use, 82.4% of students majoring in a health-related field and 88.1% of those in a non-health-related field reported that they thought perception of AED use was not universal. In terms of experience with education on the use of AED, 30.2% of health-related majors and 49.7% of non-health-related majors had not received any training on the use of AED. The average overall score regarding knowledge about AED was 8.69 for health-related majors, compared to 7.79 for non-health-related majors. Conclusion: In order to improve awareness regarding AED use, education on importance and necessity of AED should be emphasized and implemented consistently by the mass media.

Purpose: This study measured return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in relation to dispatch distance in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: Of 2,347 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients transported by emergency medical technicians in J Province between January 1 and December 31, 2015, those under age 18, those with reserved resuscitation, and those with traumatic cardiac arrest, leaving 855 patients in the study sample. ROSC was compared between those with dispatch distance ≤4 km (short dispatch distance, 465 patients) and those with dispatch distance >4 km (long dispatch distance, 390 patients). Results: The mean was 2.17 km in the short dispatch group and 9.87 km in the long dispatch group (p=.000). Mean distance from was 6.49 km and 13.39 km in the two groups, respectively (p=.000). ROSC differed significantly between the short and long dispatch distance groups (7.1% for short dispatch distance, 3.6% for long dispatch distance, p=.025). The length of time from to cardiopulmonary resuscitation also differed significantly between the short and long dispatch distance groups (8.77 minutes and 14.63 minutes, respectively, p=.000). Conclusion: ROSC was lower in areas of long dispatch distance compared to those of short dispatch distance. We expect this was most likely due to differences in response time by age and dispatch distance to the scene of cardiac arrest. However, no significant differences were found between the groups in the factors affecting ROSC.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the ability of college students to use automated external defibrillators (AED) and to provide a basic data for helping laypersons easily apply the AED. Methods: The subjects were randomly assigned to instruction groups. One group was instructed by pictures (group P), one by videos (group M), and one by telephone dispatchers (group D), Without employing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a single rescuer was asked to apply defibrillation to a mannequin for practice in accordance with the instructions assigned to each group. Results: Regarding the proper pad attachment of the AED, group P followed the instruction 0.31±0.47 times, group M, 0.81±0.40 times, and group D 0.69±0.47 times. Regarding the instruction of taking the hand off a patient for analyzing cardiac rhythm and the instruction of taking the hand off a patient before defibrillation, group P did not follow the instruction; group M followed the instructions 0.50±0.51 times; and group D followed all instructions at all times. Conclusion: If a dispatcher gives real-time instructions for using an AED to laypersons wtih no experience at the time of AED use, the quality of laypersons' AED use will greatly improve.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the satisfaction of paramedic students with simulation-based learning in an emergency intervention for bradycardia patients. Methods: Study participants were 72 paramedic students who experienced simulation-based learning. Data on satisfaction with the intervention were collected and analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results: The mean satisfaction score for the simulation-based learning intervention was 4.28 by Likert 5 point scale. Conclusion: Simulation-based learning can facilitate adaptation to the scene of an emergency among paramedic students.

Purpose: The study investigated the perception, report, and education of elder abuse in 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Korea. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to 110 EMTs in K city, and 100 answers were collected from June 1 to 10, 2015. The study instrument was perception regarding elder abuse and education inventory developed by Kim and Kim. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0 version. Results: The elder abuse perception score was 3.81 on a Likert 4-point scale. Physical abuse was the most common type, followed by verbal, financial, negligence, and emotional abuse. Most EMTs recognized that is important for the prevention of elder abuse, but most of them had no experience in reporting abuse. A majority of the EMTs had attended an elder abuse program and recognized the importsnce of such program. Conclusion: This study suggests the necessity of more targeted education of elder abuse prevention combined with family counseling methods and practical approach toward awareness of elder abuse.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of subtraction meditation on perceived stress, self-efficacy, blood pressure, and pulse rate in paramedic students. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent comparison groups using pre and post-test design was performed. The experimental group consisted of 27 participants who attended the meditation program, and the control group consisted of 26 non-participants of the program. The data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 24.0. Results: There were a statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in perceived stress(t=2.301, p=.026), systolic pressure(F=18.531, p=.000), diastolic pressure(F=9.745, p=.003), and pulse rate(F=33.869, p=.000) between pretest and posttest results. Conclusion: The subtraction meditation program can help reduce perceived stress, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and pulse rate.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the first aid knowledge and education requirements of physical therapists in a clinical setting. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to 280 physical therapists in Daejeon, Gwangju, and Seoul from July to December, 2016. Using only completed questionnaires, 201 responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0 program. Results: In the first aid knowledge, time to resuscitate heart after cardiac arrest and sprain had 91.0% and 99.0%, respectively, whereas partial respiratory obstruction and diabetes mellitus had 25.4% and 18.9%, respectively. The subjects working at advanced general hospitals(62.17) had significantly higher scores that those at general hospitals(53.82). The subjects who experienced first aid education(59.16) had significantly higher points that those without first aid education(53.24). Regarding their requirements of first aid education, 64.0% replied that they wanted to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator, poisoning, burn, and frostbite were low educational requirements. Conclusion: It is necessary to provide repeated first aid training that helps physical therapists in the field have sufficient first aid knowledge and increase that knowledge over time.