Current prehospital care status, knowledge, and prehospital care confidence toward the elderly among 119 emergency medical technicians †

【Purpose: This study aimed to improve the quality of prehospital emergency care for elderly patients by determining current prehospital care status based on run sheets and level of knowledge, and prehospital care confidence toward the elderly through questionnaires answered by 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Methods: This study was conducted with 4,946 elderly patients who were transferred to the hospital by 119 ambulances in D city from March 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014. This study was a descriptive study of 119 run sheets. The questionnaire was completed by 160 EMTs working in D city. All data were analyzed by using SPSS 21.0. Results: 74.2% was due to disease among the 4,946 elderly patients who were transferred by 119 ambulances, and a rest was due to injury. The mean knowledge score of the 119 EMTs regarding elderly patients was low. Their confidence on prehospital care of the elderly patients statistically significantly differed according to career at hospital and education. Conclusion: Theoretical knowledge, education on prehospital care of the elderly, and repeated technical prehospital care education and training accompanied by feedback assessment by 119 EMTs are needed.】