Recipients Satisfaction of Emergency Medical Service Centers of Yazd and Birjand; a Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The satisfaction rate of patients is a valuable tool for evaluating the quality of providing health care and gives important data regarding the expectations of patients and the degree to which they are being met. Considering the importance emergency medical service (EMS) centers in providing proper care, this study was carried out aiming to evaluate the satisfaction rate of those receiving services from EMS centers of Yazd and Birjand. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 150 of EMS recipients registered on the list of EMS centers of Yazd and Birjand in 2012. Systematic sampling was used and required data were gathered using the standard questionnaire of satisfaction for EMS center recipients that consisted of 2 parts; demographic data and 16 questions regarding satisfaction of recipients. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 and descriptive tests. Results: 150 participants were studied (56.7% male). The most common reason for calling was trauma due to motor vehicle accidents (32%) in Yazd and weakness and nervous system diseases (18%) in Birjand. 10% of the participants in Yazd province had low satisfaction, 39% had intermediate, and 51% had high satisfaction. In Birjand satisfaction rate was intermediate in 16% and high in 84% of those studied in Birjand. The highest satisfaction rate in Yazd was regarding cooperation of emergencies center with the patient and their manners in facing them. The lowest satisfaction rate belonged to following the condition of the patient until the arrival of ambulance and the waiting time for ambulance arrival. In Birjand, the lowest satisfaction rate belonged to the quality and existence of equipment in the emergency team. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that satisfaction level of EMS recipients in Yazd and Birjand was intermediate. The lowest satisfaction rate belonged to following the condition of the patient until the arrival of ambulance and the waiting time for ambulance arrival in Yazd, and the quality of equipment in Birjand