Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational study
Abstract Aim In Japan, approximately 60% of adult ambulance users are diagnosed with minor injuries or diseases in the emergency department and thus do not require hospitalization. This study aimed to determine the distinct subgroup (segment) characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent m...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Acute Medicine & Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ams2.911 |
| _version_ | 1797374387436912640 |
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| author | Keiko Ueno Chie Teramoto Hiroyuki Sawatari Kazuaki Tanabe |
| author_facet | Keiko Ueno Chie Teramoto Hiroyuki Sawatari Kazuaki Tanabe |
| author_sort | Keiko Ueno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aim In Japan, approximately 60% of adult ambulance users are diagnosed with minor injuries or diseases in the emergency department and thus do not require hospitalization. This study aimed to determine the distinct subgroup (segment) characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions by interpreting quantitatively derived segments through the segmentation approach. Methods This population‐based observational study used the ambulance transportation and request call records databases of the Higashihiroshima Fire Department, Japan, between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020. The participants were ambulance users aged 18–64 years diagnosed with minor injuries or diseases in the emergency department (defined as adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions). A soft clustering method was used to divide the participants based on 13 variables. Results This analysis included 5,982 adult ambulance users. Six segments were obtained: (1) “users with neurological diseases or other injuries occurring late at night on weekdays”; (2) “users injured or involved in fire accidents, with increased on‐scene time and multiple hospital inquiries”; (3) “users transferred between hospitals”; (4) “users with acute illnesses and transported from home”; (5) “users involved in motor vehicle accidents”; and (6) “users transferred to hospitals outside of the area during the daytime on weekdays.” Conclusion These findings indicate that adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions can be divided into distinct segments using population‐based ambulance records. Further research is warranted to address the ambulance user needs of each segment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:05:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c799b360a0b846679535d9aea3957f3c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-8817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:05:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acute Medicine & Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-c799b360a0b846679535d9aea3957f3c2023-12-28T00:28:39ZengWileyAcute Medicine & Surgery2052-88172023-01-01101n/an/a10.1002/ams2.911Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational studyKeiko Ueno0Chie Teramoto1Hiroyuki Sawatari2Kazuaki Tanabe3Department of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and School of Public Health Kyoto University Kyoto JapanDepartment of Perioperative and Critical Care Management, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Hiroshima University Hiroshima JapanDepartment of Perioperative and Critical Care Management, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Hiroshima University Hiroshima JapanDepartment of Perioperative and Critical Care Management, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Hiroshima University Hiroshima JapanAbstract Aim In Japan, approximately 60% of adult ambulance users are diagnosed with minor injuries or diseases in the emergency department and thus do not require hospitalization. This study aimed to determine the distinct subgroup (segment) characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions by interpreting quantitatively derived segments through the segmentation approach. Methods This population‐based observational study used the ambulance transportation and request call records databases of the Higashihiroshima Fire Department, Japan, between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020. The participants were ambulance users aged 18–64 years diagnosed with minor injuries or diseases in the emergency department (defined as adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions). A soft clustering method was used to divide the participants based on 13 variables. Results This analysis included 5,982 adult ambulance users. Six segments were obtained: (1) “users with neurological diseases or other injuries occurring late at night on weekdays”; (2) “users injured or involved in fire accidents, with increased on‐scene time and multiple hospital inquiries”; (3) “users transferred between hospitals”; (4) “users with acute illnesses and transported from home”; (5) “users involved in motor vehicle accidents”; and (6) “users transferred to hospitals outside of the area during the daytime on weekdays.” Conclusion These findings indicate that adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions can be divided into distinct segments using population‐based ambulance records. Further research is warranted to address the ambulance user needs of each segment.https://doi.org/10.1002/ams2.911ambulancecluster analysisemergency medical serviceobservational studypatient acuity |
| spellingShingle | Keiko Ueno Chie Teramoto Hiroyuki Sawatari Kazuaki Tanabe Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational study Acute Medicine & Surgery ambulance cluster analysis emergency medical service observational study patient acuity |
| title | Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational study |
| title_full | Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational study |
| title_fullStr | Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational study |
| title_short | Identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in Japan: A population‐based observational study |
| title_sort | identifying subgroup characteristics of adult ambulance users with nonurgent medical conditions in japan a population based observational study |
| topic | ambulance cluster analysis emergency medical service observational study patient acuity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ams2.911 |
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