title: Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attribute and Demographic Study (LEADS): an interim report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This ten-year longitudinal study examines various attributes and demographic characteristics of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics to identify factors that influence their careers, to identify trends in emergency medical services (EMS), and to provide data on why individuals report leaving the EMS career field.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 46-item core survey and a 16-item cross-sectional survey were administered to EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics who were randomly selected and placed in cohort groups stratified by duration of continuous registration at each level and by race. The core survey focused on five broad areas of attributes and demographics, including general, professional, educational, personal, and financial. Case weights were calculated for respondents in each stratum, reflecting the individual's probability of selection. These case weights were adjusted, within strata, for nonresponse. The survey will be administered annually. The cross-sectional survey focused on EMS education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This interim report is descriptive of the overall responses of EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics to core survey items. The demographic characteristics of EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics are described as well as a description of their work activities, working conditions, and job satisfaction
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial EMT and paramedic attribute and demographic data have been collected, analyzed, and reported. The longitudinal nature of this study requires further data collection and analysis to accurately present trends in EMS, as well as correlations and associations between identified attributes and other factors that influence the careers of EMTs and paramedics. Further reports of the findings will be necessary.
authors.affiliation: National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, Ohio 43229, USA.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Dickison
authors.forename: Wayne J A
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Misselbeck
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000639:trends; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce