Driving Behavior of Pre-hospital Emergency Personnel in Ardabil Province

Background: The emergency ambulance service is crucial in delivering emergency medical services (EMS) to patients. This study aimed to assess the driving behavior of ambulance drivers, who are emergency medical personnel. Materials and Methods: Between June and August ۲۰۲۳, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the pre-hospital emergency department of Ardabil Province. The study included ۴۰۰ working staff who were chosen using the census method. The Manchester driver behavior questionnaire (MDBQ) and a demographic questionnaire, were ‎used to collect data. The MDBQ is a ۵۰-item questionnaire consisting of four subscales: Lapse errors, slips, deliberate, and unintentional violations. The data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation, as well as inferential analysis, including analysis of variance, independent t-test, and multiple regression, using SPSS software, version ۲۲. Results: There was a statistically significant relationship between age, work experience, education, and type of work shift and the driving behavior of personnel. The total mean score of personnel driving behavior was ۳۷.۹۵±۷.۲۶. Also, the mean scores of driving slips, mistakes, intentional violations, and unintentional violations were ۱۴.۵۲±۴.۲۶, ۶.۵۳±۳.۰۵, ۱۳.۹۹±۴.۰۴ and ۲.۸۸±۱.۸۷, respectively. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, education, and type of work shift were predictors of driving behavior.  Conclusion: Training, promotion of a driving culture, risk awareness, and management by drivers may be effective approaches to reducing the occurrence of emergency vehicle accidents.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ambulance ، Emergency ، Emergency Medical services (EMS) ، Pre-hospital ، Safety