Objectives Severe trauma remains a leading cause of death in the Republic of Korea. In response, regional trauma centers were established in 2012. This study evaluated the impact of direct prehospital transport to trauma centers on in-hospital mortality among patients with severe trauma using the national trauma registry. Methods: This nationwide observational study utilized data from the Korean community-based trauma registry between 2016 and 2020. Patients with an injury severity score >15 who were directly transported from the prehospital setting were included. Variables analyzed encompassed demographics, injury mechanism, transport time, hospital level, and outcomes. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Both logistic regression and decision tree models were employed. Results: A total of 24,567 patients were included. Overall mortality decreased by 5.2% during the study period. Patients transported to level 1 or 2 trauma centers had a lower mortality rate (23.6%) compared to those transported to level 3 or 4 hospitals (28.0%). The proportion of direct transports to high-level centers increased from 46.7% to 64.1% between 2016 and 2020. Despite longer transport times, patients transported to high-level institutions exhibited improved survival, particularly when transport exceeded 30 minutes, suggesting that hospital selection may be more critical than minimizing transport time. Conclusion: Direct transport to high-level trauma centers improves survival among patients with severe trauma, even when transport times are prolonged. These findings support the importance of a well-organized trauma system that emphasizes hospital capability in prehospital triage decisions.
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Objectives This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy.
Methods The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites.
Results Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital.
Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.
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<sec>
<title>Objectives</title>
<p>Elderly adults are the demographic most likely to utilize emergency medical services (EMS). This study aimed to examine the difference in EMS utilization in subgroups of the elderly population by assessing the predictors for using EMS.</p></sec>
<sec>
<title>Methods</title>
<p>Using both descriptive and logistic regression analyses, this study analyses data from the 2014 Korean Health Panel Survey (<italic>n</italic> = 3,175).</p></sec>
<sec>
<title>Results</title>
<p>It was observed that certain predisposing factors such as age, sex, and marital status were significant predictors of EMS utilization. However, differences in EMS need do not fully account for the original differences observed between subgroups of elderly Koreans. While health status and disability were important predictors of elderly Koreans using EMS, place of residence did not account for subgroup differences. Nonetheless, place of residence remained particularly important predictors of EMS utilization for the elderly.</p></sec>
<sec>
<title>Conclusion</title>
<p>Emergency needs and resource availability are 2 main determinants for elderly Koreans using EMS. In addition, it was observed that the demographic subgroup profile of unmarried/divorced/separated/widowed men who were aged 75 and older was least likely to utilize EMS. Improving their resource availability to meet their EMS needs should be a top priority for national policy making to narrow elderly population subgroup differences.</p></sec>
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Fatores associados às causas externas em idosos atendidos pelo serviço de atendimento móvel de urgência Ana Angélica Oliveira de Brito, Beatriz Barros de Vasconcelos, Ana Maria Ribeiro dos Santos, Débora de Oliveira Lima, Maria Zélia de Araújo Madeira, Guilherme Guarino de Moura Sá, Julyanne dos Santos Nolêto, Rouslanny Kelly Cipriano de Oliveira Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
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The Epidemiology of Adult Emergency Medical Services Use in Muğla Ömer Faruk Karakoyun, Kıvanç Karaman, Burcu Kaymak Golcuk, Yalcin Golcuk Paramedik ve Acil Sağlık Hizmetleri Dergisi.2024; 5(1): 1. CrossRef
Medical and social factors influencing the utilization of healthcare services among older adults in Israel during the COVID-19 lockdown Ohad Shaked, Liat Korn, Yair Shapiro, Moti Zwilling, Avi Zigdon Frontiers in Public Health.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Social Factors Contributing to Healthcare Service Requirements during the First COVID-19 Lockdown among Older Adults Ohad Shaked, Liat Korn, Yair Shapiro, Avi Zigdon Healthcare.2022; 10(10): 1854. CrossRef
Socio-demographic characteristics and their relation to medical service consumption among elderly in Israel during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 as compared to the corresponding period in 2019 Ohad Shaked, Liat Korn, Yair Shapiro, Gideon Koren, Avi Zigdon, Aviad Tur-Sinai PLOS ONE.2022; 17(12): e0278893. CrossRef
Objectives
To investigate the determinants of total medical expense for depression patients admitted through the emergency room (ER). Methods
Data were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance sample data for 2009. SPSS version 18 was used for the statistical analysis such as descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Data included 1203 cases admitted through the ER with ICD-10 codes (F31–F39). Results
In the multiple regression analysis, significant variables affecting total payment were gender (<i>p</i> < 0.001), age (<i>p</i> < 0.001), main illness (<i>p</i> < 0.001), course of admission to the ER (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and length of stay (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusion
It is necessary to build a long-term program and system for high-risk depression groups.
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The economic burden of adolescent internet addiction: A Korean health cost case study Robert W. Mead, Edward Nall The Social Science Journal.2026; 63(3): 974. CrossRef
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A Comparative Study on Total Payment of Mental and Behavioral Disorders Patients Admitted through the Emergency Room: Focusing on Main & Sub Sick Hyun-Sik Choi, Hyun-Sook Lee The Journal of the Korea Contents Association.2014; 14(10): 562. CrossRef
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