Causes of Traffic Collisions of Ambulance Cars at the Prague Emergency Medical Services

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the project is to increase the protection of patients, employees and the organization by means of data collection about traffic collisions of ambulance cars.

Detailed Description
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Published research studies have shown not only that approximately half of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers show signs of severe fatigue before traffic collision, but also that drowsy or tired EMS providers are significantly more often injured at work. Among the circumstances and factors contributing to the collisions, including environmental, road or equipment factors, the real causes of the collisions remain unclear, but might be investigated through interviews with participating drivers. The aim is to increase the protection of patients, employees and the organization by collect data in both qualitative and quantitative ways and to identify factors and measurable variables that might lead to strengthen healthy driving habits under the blue lights. The factors associated with ambulance accidents are not similar to those of the general driving population. The in-depth analysis of the whole problem aims not only to clarify the causes of collisions, but especially to create prevention steps so that such situations occur as little as possible. The methodology will use the so-called mixed design - a combination of in-depth interviews with participating members of collisions (employees, or patient / relative), data from the road-scans and qualitative data including measurable variables. A video-analysis of the collision will be performed. All data will be recorded anonymously - each participant in the accident will receive a special number for coding, under which they will appear. Data will be presented both in descriptive statistics and after statistical analysis (chi square test for independence and Fischer's exact test at the level of significance = 0.05). In terms of qualitative data, in-depth interviews and their coding will be performed using grounded theory (based on Strauss and Corbin methodology). The aim is to gain the same view of events and their actions as the members of the group. The sample of participants depends on collision rate, which was 50 incidents in the year 2020 (expecting approx. 100 cases in 2 years).

Official Title
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Causes of Traffic Collisions of Ambulance Cars at the Prague Emergency Medical Services

Conditions
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Traffic Collision, Transport Accident

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: ambulance driver involved in a traffic collision of ambulance car consent to participate in the study video recording of the collision exists and can be used Exclusion Criteria: disagreement with participating in the study video recording of the collision cannot be obtained

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Driver<br>Ambulance driver who was involved in a traffic collision - video analysis of the collision records and in-depth interview aiming to find the cause of the collision. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Severity of the collision | 3 levels of collisions' severity were set: (1) minor collision outside the public road, (2) minor collision caused on a public road and (3) severe collision. | Through study completion, an average of 2 year or until collection of 100 observations in total. | 
| Time frame of the collision | The time frame of the collision - includes the interval in which the collision happened - (1) way to the patient, (2) transport of the patient, (3) handover of the patient, (4) way from the hospital to the base, (5) out of duty. | Through study completion, an average of 2 year or until collection of 100 observations in total. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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traffic collision, safety, ambulances, emergency medical services