Challenges of Emergency Medical Services Utilization by Older Adults in Tabriz, Iran: Data from Health Status of Aged People in Tabriz (HSA-T Study)

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the awareness of older adults in Tabriz of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the terms of services. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting(s): Tabriz, the capital city of East Azerbaijan Province, in northwestern Iran. Participants: A representative sample of≥60 years old noninstitutionalized population containing 1071 participants (514 males and 557 females) in the health status of aged people in Tabriz (HSA-T) study was selected using the probability proportional to the size (PPS) sampling method. Out of all the participants in the HAS-T study, 1062 participants (514 males and 548 females) completed the questionnaire regarding the awareness and knowledge of EMS. Outcome Measures: Service awareness means being informed about the existence of the EMS. Knowledge about EMS is defined as knowing the EMS phone number and knowledge about its free and 24-hour services. Results: Forty-seven percent of the older adults were not familiar with the EMS system. The awareness of EMS in males was higher than that in females (63.4% vs. 44.4%, P<0.001), and it was also higher among those born in cities than those in rural areas (61.2% vs. 46.1%, P<0.001). Furthermore, individuals who hold primary, secondary, and higher education had a higher chance of awareness of EMS compared with illiterate people by more than 2, 4, and 12 times, respectively Odds ratio (OR)=2.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.81–3.52, OR=4.69; 95% CI: 2.79–7.91, and OR=12.09; 95% CI: 4.88–29.94). Conclusions: Due to the high rate of illiteracy and low public awareness, older adults do not have appropriate knowledge about the facilities, conditions, and terms of using EMS and may not be able to demand some of their essential services; therefore, notifying and increasing the older adults’ awareness of the available services is necessary.