Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T08:43:57.625Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Comparison of Rural and Urban Emergency Medical System (EMS) Personnel: A Texas Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Chwee Lye Chng ,
John Collins  and
Starr Eaddy
Chwee Lye Chng*
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
John Collins
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
Starr Eaddy
Affiliation:
Department of Health Studies, Texas Women's University, Denton, Texas, USA
*
Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, PO Box 311337, Denton, Texas USA, E-mail: Chng@coefs.coe.unt.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

In treating accident victims, actions by the Emergency Medical Personnel (EMP) at the scene may be the difference between life or death, full recovery or permanent disability. Development of selected profiles based on locale of services, tenure, and paramedic certification will provide valuable insight into the diversity within the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) profession. Not only will these profiles enable administrators to improve their recruitment, training, and retention of the emergency medical workforce, it potentially could enhance the quality of health care in the community.

Population:

Emergency medical personnel attending a statewide conference in Texas in late 1996 (n = 425).

Hypotheses:

1) There is no difference between the profiles of urban and rural emergency medical personnel; 2) There is no difference between the profiles of urban EMP with <9 years of experience and those with ≥9 years of experience; 3) There is no difference between the profiles of rural EMP with <9 years of experience and those with ≥9 years of experience. 4) There is no difference between the profiles of urban EMP with paramedic certification and those without certification; and 5) There is no difference between the profiles of rural EMP with paramedic certification and those without certification.

Methods:

EMP attending the conference completed 425 survey instruments measuring five demographic features, five work-related features, and two psychological features. Survey instruments were included in each registrant's conference package. Completed surveys were deposited anonymously in labeled receptacles throughout the statewide conference site. Data collection ceased at the end of the conference. Discriminant analysis identified distinct profiles for the urban and rural EMP.

Results:

The urban EMP, more than rural subjects, was younger (mean = 36 years), more likely to be compensated 100% for their services, had a higher level of education (mean = 13.8 years), and reported a lower level of burnout. Urban EMP with <9 years of experience tended to be younger, male, married, and reported less burnout. Urban paramedics were more likely to be compensated 100% for their services, and had achieved a higher level of education. The rural EMP with <9 years of experience were less likely to be paramedic, reported lower burnout scores, and was younger. The rural EMP without paramedic certification was more likely to be a volunteer, and have had fewer years of service.

Conclusions:

In Texas, locale of service (urban or rural), length of tenure as an EMP (>9 years), and paramedic certification appear to be significant factors that define the EMP population in Texas.

Keywords

certificationeducationemergency medical servicesexperiencegendermarital statusparamedicpersonnelprofilesrecruitmentretentionTexasurban
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 2001 , pp. 159 - 165
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Macy, Josiah Jr., Foundation: The role of emergency medicine in the future of American medical care: Summary of the conference. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1995;25:230–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. McConnel, CE, Wilson, RW: The demand for prehospital emergency services in an aging society. Social Science Medicine 1998;46(8):1027–1031.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Sattin, RW: Falls among older persons: A public health perspective. Annual Review of Public Health 1992:13:489–508.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS): National Mortality Data, 1997. Hyattsville, Maryland: NCHS. 1998.Google Scholar
5. Quinlan, KP, Thompson, MP, Annest, JL, Peddicord, J, Ryan, G, Kessler, EP, McDonald, AK: Expanding the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to monitor all nonfatal injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1999;34:637–645.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: 1998 Fatality Facts: Teenagers. Arlington, VA, Sept. 1999. (Online at www.iihs.org/safety_facts/fatality_facts/).Google Scholar
7. Pozzi, C: Exposure of prehospital providers to violence and abuse. Journal of Emergency Nursing 1998;24(4):320–323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Nordberg, M: Young guns. Emergency Medical Services 1992;21(6):27, 31–32, 34–37.Google ScholarPubMed
9. Rockwood, CA, Mann, CM, Farrington, JD, Hampton, OP, Motley, RE: History of emergency medical services in the United States. The Journal of Trauma 1976;16(4):299–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Boudreaux, E, Jones, GN, Mandry, C, Brantley, PJ: Patient care and daily stress among emergency medical technicians. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1996;11(3):188–193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. Chng, CL, Eaddy, S: Sensation seeking as it relates to burnout among emergency medical personnel: A Texas study. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1999;14(4):240–244.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. Revicki, DA, Gershon, RM: Work-related stress and psychological distress in emergency medical technicians. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 1996;1(3):1–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. Grigsby, DW, McKnew, MA: Work-stress burnout among paramedics. Psychological Reports 1988;63:55–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Revicki, DA, May, HJ, Whitley, TW: Reliability and validity of the work-related strain inventory among health professionals. Behavioral Medicine 1991;17:111–120.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Gonsoulin, S, Palmer, CE: Gender issues and partner preferences among a sample of emergency medical technicians. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1998;13(1):34–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. Phelan, J, Bromet, EJ, Scwartz, JE, Dew, MA, Curtis, EC: The work environments of male and female professionals—Objective and subjective characteristics. Work and Occupations 1993;20:68–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17. Chai, K: The role of volunteers: What educators need to know. Nursing Staff Development Insider 1995;4:7–8.Google ScholarPubMed
18. Hutchison, R, Quartaro, E: Training imperatives for volunteers caring for high-risk, vulnerable populations. Journal of Community Health Nursing 1993;10:87–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed