Analysis of The Factors Affecting Driving Errors In Emergency Technicians, A Case Study: Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, 2014

Reza Pourmirzakalhori¹, Ali Mohammadi², Bijan Sabur¹, Arsalan Naderipour¹ and Roholah Mohammadi³

¹Emergency Medicine Department, Paramedical School, Kermanshah University of Medical Scienses, Kermanshah , IR. Iran. ²Health Information Technology Department, Paramedical School, Kermanshah University of Medical Scienses, Kermanshah , IR. Iran. ³Cardiac Care Unit, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Scienses, Kermanshah , IR. Iran.

Abstract: Human errors are the most important causes of traffic accidents; these errors are subject to cultural, social, economic, and geographical conditions and have a large variety in different societies. The skill of driving an ambulance in the personnel of emergency medical services (EMS) is an important part of the emergency care in injures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting driving errors in EMS personnel. The descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 2014. Data were collected from urban and roadside EMS centers as well as its headquarters affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. The study population included 198 EMS personnel. The study samples were 167 individuals selected through the census method considering the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using two questionnaires, a researcher-made questionnaire and the Manchester Driving Behavior Questionnaire. The validity of the first questionnaire was confirmed by the experts’ opinions while the second questionnaire was validated in previous studies. The researchers attended the centers in person for data collection. SPSS 15 was used for data analysis. The results showed that being arrested for traffic offences was only related with the marital status (P = 0.006). There was no association between a history of driver’s license confiscation and demographic characteristics. Marital status and education were associated with injury accidents (P = 0.001). Finally, marital status (P = 0.006) and the type of the driver’s license (P = 0.001) correlated with a history of fatal accidents. Driving and work experience, marital status and the type of the driver’s license were associated with unintentional violation and level of education had a relationship with lapse errors and unintentional violation. Driving is one of the necessary skills of EMS technicians. Skill, experience, and knowledge of safe driving, in addition to preventing and reducing traffic accidents, save the lives of the injured persons and patients, as well. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the driving skill of the EMS personnel through continuous and targeted education programs.

Keywords: Driving error; Emergency medical technician; Emergency medical Department

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