Reduction in ambulance transports during a public awareness campaign for appropriate ambulance use.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to characterize the change in the upward trend in monthly ambulance transports that occurred during a citywide campaign for appropriate ambulance use. This study also investigated whether the number of ambulance transports for individuals with nonserious conditions decreased separately from the decrease in ambulance transports for individuals with serious conditions.

METHODS

A retrospective time series survey was carried out on the number of ambulance transports that occurred per month over a 10-year period (1997-2006). This study focused on individuals transported by ambulance because of illness. Seasonal decomposition was applied to adjust for the seasonal effect on ambulance transport. The shift in the trend during the campaign period (April 2005-December 2006) was examined by means of linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The number of individuals transported by ambulance decreased during the campaign period. A decrease in the number of ambulance transports was observed for both nonserious and serious conditions. During the campaign period, the number of ambulance transports per month was estimated to have decreased by 530 (approximately 7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -729 to -331) for individuals with nonserious conditions and by 37 (approximately 8%; 95% CI = -53 to -22) for individuals with serious conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

A campaign to educate the public on appropriate ambulance use may reduce ambulance calls for both nonserious and serious conditions.