Emergency department personnel use seatbelts almost all the time: what do they know that average Delawareans don't?
A survey was sent to each emergency department in Delaware and each county Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Advanced Life Support (paramedic) service asking seven questions on risk-taking behavior. Within the survey were the following four questions regarding seatbelt use: a) Do you wear a seatbelt while driving? b) Do you require others in your car to wear seatbelts? c) When you are a passenger in a car, do you wear a seatbelt? d) Has the seatbelt law in Delaware impacted your seatbelt use? The three possible responses were "never," "sometimes," and "always." The remaining three questions were confouders and asked about cigarette smoking and driving under the influence of alcohol. Replies were divided into the following job categories: 1) emergency physician (EP), emergency department (ED) physician assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP), 2) emergency nurse, 3) paramedic, or 4) ED clerk, respiratory therapist (RT), or other emergency support personnel. A total of 313 surveys was returned by 78 physicians, NPs and PAs; 115 paramedics; and 115 clerks, RTs, and other support personnel. Overall, 86 percent of respondent stated that they always wear seatbelts with 99 percent of EPs/PAs and NPs responding always. Overall, 83 percent stated that they require others to wear seatbelts in their automobiles. Eighty-four percent wear seatbelts while a passenger in someone else's car. The physician, PA, and NP group had the greatest "always" response rate as compared to the other groups.
Madden
John F
JF
Emergency Department, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Steinberg
Hope
H
O'Connor
Robert E
RE
D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003625:Data Collection; D003691:Delaware; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*