• Ramiz Yazıcı, Efe Demir Bala, Burak Bekgöz, Eyup Sari, Ayse Fethiye Basa Kalafat, Ozgur Omer Yildiz, Utku Murat Kalafat, and Serkan Dogan.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, İstanbul-Türkiye.
• Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024 Aug 1; 30 (8): 554561554-561.

BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the accuracy and quality of prehospital assessments and preliminary diagnoses made by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers compared to the final diagnoses given by Emergency Department physicians in a metropolitan area.MethodsThis retrospective observational study utilized records from the Yenimahalle EMS Command Center in Ankara, Türkiye, from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. Data were recorded as cases rather than individual patients, with repeated EMS admissions counted separately. Cases were categorized by EMS call time, reasons for EMS requests, age, gender, nationality, and weekday of hospital arrival to assess socioeconomic impacts and congestion patterns. The study included 2.528 pediatric cases, excluding patients aged 18 and older, those who refused EMS transfer, and cases resolved at the scene. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 27.0, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.ResultsThe study included 2.528 cases. The data revealed that EMS providers had an average of 9.9±4.7 years of experience. In 1.839 cases (72.7%), the EMS provider was female, and in 689 cases (27.3%), the EMS provider was male. Patients had an average age of 9.2±5.8 years, with 1.173 (46.4%) being female and 1.355 (53.6%) being male. Preliminary diagnosis accuracy was higher in cases involving younger and male patients. Additionally, a lower preliminary diagnosis accuracy rate was observed during office hours (08: 00-15: 59) compared to non-office hours (16: 00-23: 59). The majority of EMS calls were for medical reasons (1,783 cases, 70.5%), followed by trauma-related calls (745 cases, 29.5%).ConclusionThis study highlights the need for improved on-field training for EMS providers to enhance the accuracy and quality of prehospital assessments and preliminary diagnoses. The findings suggest that younger and male patients have higher preliminary diagnosis accuracy rates, and there is a noticeable decrease in accuracy during office hours, indicating potential areas for targeted training and protocol adjustments.

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