Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ararso Olani,1 Lemlem Beza Demisse,2 Michael Alemayehu,3 Menbeu Sultan4 1College of Medicine and Health Science, Arba Minch University, Arbaminch, Ethiopia; 2Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Tirunesh Beijing Hospital, Addis...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Open Access Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/factors-associated-with-willingness-to-call-emergency-medical-services-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OAEM |
| _version_ | 1798028700942336000 |
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| author | Olani A Beza Demisse L Alemayehu M Sultan M |
| author_facet | Olani A Beza Demisse L Alemayehu M Sultan M |
| author_sort | Olani A |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ararso Olani,1 Lemlem Beza Demisse,2 Michael Alemayehu,3 Menbeu Sultan4 1College of Medicine and Health Science, Arba Minch University, Arbaminch, Ethiopia; 2Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Tirunesh Beijing Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Lemlem Beza Demisse, Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Po Box 2021, Bole Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel +251 923-092533, Email lemnene33@yahoo.comBackground: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health has established ambulances and dispatch centers specifically designed to transport COVID-19 patients to city medical centers. Due to a lack of evidence in this area, it is critical to assess the factors that influence the willingness to call for emergency medical services.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2021 in Addis Ababa. The data were gathered through use of a pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 25. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with and without confounding variable controls, and significant associations were declared at (0.05). For the variables that show significant associations in bivariate and multivariate analyses, a 95% confidence interval is provided.Results: Three-quarters of those surveyed said they would call ambulance if they experienced worsening COVID-19 symptoms. The individual’s language was associated with the willingness to call EMS for worsening COVID-19 symptoms [AOR 0.51(95% CI: 0.28– 0.92)].; awareness of the availability of toll-free ambulance services [AOR 3.4(95% CI: 1.92– 5.95)]; recalling an EMS number [AOR 4.3(95% CI: 1.71– 10.67)]; ambulance crew quality of care perception [AOR 3.6(95% CI: 2.09– 6.10)]; ambulance service adequacy and accessibility perception [AOR 0.25(95% CI: 0.11– 0.55)].Conclusion: The study showed significant portion of the Addis Ababa community recognized the need to call EMS due to worsening COVID-19 symptoms. The individual’s language, awareness of toll-free ambulance; ability to recall an ambulance number, perception of the ambulance crew’s quality of care and adequacy and accessibility of service in the city influence the decision to call an ambulance. The finding highlights the significance of addressing problems through various media outlet, for advocacy and public awareness. More research, including qualitative studies, is needed to investigate the factors that encourage people to seek EMS.Keywords: the need to call emergency medical services, prehospital care, worsening COVID-19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:12:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cb5e589b28a947a0ae231ad5d856f2d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T19:12:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Access Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-cb5e589b28a947a0ae231ad5d856f2d22022-12-22T04:07:34ZengDove Medical PressOpen Access Emergency Medicine1179-15002022-10-01Volume 1456357279078Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, EthiopiaOlani ABeza Demisse LAlemayehu MSultan MArarso Olani,1 Lemlem Beza Demisse,2 Michael Alemayehu,3 Menbeu Sultan4 1College of Medicine and Health Science, Arba Minch University, Arbaminch, Ethiopia; 2Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 3Tirunesh Beijing Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4Department of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Lemlem Beza Demisse, Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Po Box 2021, Bole Road, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel +251 923-092533, Email lemnene33@yahoo.comBackground: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health has established ambulances and dispatch centers specifically designed to transport COVID-19 patients to city medical centers. Due to a lack of evidence in this area, it is critical to assess the factors that influence the willingness to call for emergency medical services.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2021 in Addis Ababa. The data were gathered through use of a pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 25. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with and without confounding variable controls, and significant associations were declared at (0.05). For the variables that show significant associations in bivariate and multivariate analyses, a 95% confidence interval is provided.Results: Three-quarters of those surveyed said they would call ambulance if they experienced worsening COVID-19 symptoms. The individual’s language was associated with the willingness to call EMS for worsening COVID-19 symptoms [AOR 0.51(95% CI: 0.28– 0.92)].; awareness of the availability of toll-free ambulance services [AOR 3.4(95% CI: 1.92– 5.95)]; recalling an EMS number [AOR 4.3(95% CI: 1.71– 10.67)]; ambulance crew quality of care perception [AOR 3.6(95% CI: 2.09– 6.10)]; ambulance service adequacy and accessibility perception [AOR 0.25(95% CI: 0.11– 0.55)].Conclusion: The study showed significant portion of the Addis Ababa community recognized the need to call EMS due to worsening COVID-19 symptoms. The individual’s language, awareness of toll-free ambulance; ability to recall an ambulance number, perception of the ambulance crew’s quality of care and adequacy and accessibility of service in the city influence the decision to call an ambulance. The finding highlights the significance of addressing problems through various media outlet, for advocacy and public awareness. More research, including qualitative studies, is needed to investigate the factors that encourage people to seek EMS.Keywords: the need to call emergency medical services, prehospital care, worsening COVID-19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopiahttps://www.dovepress.com/factors-associated-with-willingness-to-call-emergency-medical-services-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OAEMthe need to call emergency medical servicesprehospital careworsening covid-19addis ababaethiopia |
| spellingShingle | Olani A Beza Demisse L Alemayehu M Sultan M Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Open Access Emergency Medicine the need to call emergency medical services prehospital care worsening covid-19 addis ababa ethiopia |
| title | Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Factors Associated with Willingness to Call Emergency Medical Services for Worsening Symptoms of COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | factors associated with willingness to call emergency medical services for worsening symptoms of covid 19 in addis ababa ethiopia |
| topic | the need to call emergency medical services prehospital care worsening covid-19 addis ababa ethiopia |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/factors-associated-with-willingness-to-call-emergency-medical-services-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OAEM |
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