GPs' use of defibrillators and the national radio network in emergency primary healthcare in Norway.
OBJECTIVE
To study the geographic size of out-of-hours districts, the availability of defibrillators and use of the national radio network in Norway.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
The emergency primary healthcare system in Norway.


METHODS
A total of 282 host municipalities responsible for 260 out-of-hours districts.


METHODS
Size of out-of-hours districts, use of national radio network and access to a defibrillator in emergency situations.


RESULTS
The out-of-hours districts have a wide range of areas, which gives a large variation in driving time for doctors on call. The median longest transport time for doctors in Norway is 45 minutes. In 46% of out-of-hours districts doctors bring their own defibrillator on emergency callouts. Doctors always use the national radio network in 52% of out-of-hours districts. Use of the radio network and access to a defibrillator are significantly greater in out-of-hours districts with a host municipality of fewer then 5000 inhabitants compared with host municipalities of more than 20,000 inhabitants.


CONCLUSIONS
In half of out-of-hours districts doctors on call always use the national radio network. Doctors in out-of-hours districts with a host municipality of fewer than 5000 inhabitants are in a better state of readiness to attend an emergency, compared with doctors working in larger host municipalities.
National Centre for Emergency Primary Health Care, Norway. erik.zakariassen@isf.uib.no
Erik
E
Zakariassen
Steinar
S
Hunskaar
D039602:After-Hours Care; D000552:Ambulances; D047548:Defibrillators / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005194:Family Practice; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014186:Transportation