title: Efficacy of pre-hospital care in trauma patients in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pre-hospital care plays a vital role in the management of trauma patients. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the pre-hospital care performed by the Tehran Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in trauma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective study was performed on trauma patients referred to the emergency department of a teaching hospital by the Tehran EMS from September 2004 until 2005. Considering the lack of scientific observation-based protocols on pre-hospital care, certain protocols were developed based on the available up-to-date protocols in the emergency medicine text books and were used as the gold standard for comparing the provided care by EMSs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effectiveness of pre-hospital care performed by Tehran emergency technicians, compatible with the patients' condition, was evaluated in 994 patients. Wound bandaging and haemostasis were done correctly in 80% of the indicated cases. Splint was applied correctly in 50% of patients in need for such a device, whereas collar and spinal bed were not performed in 80% of the indicated cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tehran's EMS is not capable of providing trauma patients with effective and accurate pre-hospital care, indicating that major changes are needed to improve this.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khashayar
authors.forename: Hadi Ahmadi
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Amoli
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panahi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*