Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study
The frequency of use of emergency telephone consultation (ETC) services, which is a telephone triage system in Japan, was explored to determine age- and sex-related trends on symptoms/events among Japanese adults. Data were obtained from records of the initial year of ETC services in Saitama Prefect...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-12-01
|
Series: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/185 |
id |
doaj-293c772adcba4d44ac8639aae304a05d |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-293c772adcba4d44ac8639aae304a05d2020-11-24T21:42:23ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012019-12-0117118510.3390/ijerph17010185ijerph17010185Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational StudyAkihisa Nakamura0Toshie Manabe1Hiroyuki Teraura2Kazuhiko Kotani3Chichibu City Otaki National Health Insurance Clinic, 925 Otaki, Chichibu City 369-1901, Saitama, JapanDivision of Community and Family Medicine, Center of Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-City 329-0498, Tochigi, JapanDivision of Community and Family Medicine, Center of Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-City 329-0498, Tochigi, JapanDivision of Community and Family Medicine, Center of Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-City 329-0498, Tochigi, JapanThe frequency of use of emergency telephone consultation (ETC) services, which is a telephone triage system in Japan, was explored to determine age- and sex-related trends on symptoms/events among Japanese adults. Data were obtained from records of the initial year of ETC services in Saitama Prefecture (from October 2014 to September 2015). Residents who used the ETC services were divided into four age groups (20−39, 40−64, 65−74, and ≥75 years old). The number of calls per 1000 persons (call rate, CR) was compared between the groups. The annual CR for the top 10 symptoms/events were assessed. The annual CR was 2.6/1000 persons. The annual CR was significantly higher for women (2.9) than for men (2.3) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). ETC use was the highest in the 20−39 age group for both sexes (3.3 and 4.4 in men and women, respectively). All groups had fever, abdominal pain, and nausea/vomiting in common. In older adults, the frequency of events such as bruises and head injury was high. Women and younger adults tended to use ETC services. There were similarities and differences in symptoms/events among the groups, which should be recognized by call centers to help foster call center staff.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/185ambulancesemergency medical servicesfamily memberprehospital emergency care servicessex differencestelemedicinetelephone triage |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Akihisa Nakamura Toshie Manabe Hiroyuki Teraura Kazuhiko Kotani |
spellingShingle |
Akihisa Nakamura Toshie Manabe Hiroyuki Teraura Kazuhiko Kotani Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ambulances emergency medical services family member prehospital emergency care services sex differences telemedicine telephone triage |
author_facet |
Akihisa Nakamura Toshie Manabe Hiroyuki Teraura Kazuhiko Kotani |
author_sort |
Akihisa Nakamura |
title |
Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study |
title_short |
Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study |
title_full |
Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study |
title_fullStr |
Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study |
title_sort |
age and sex differences in the use of emergency telephone consultation services in saitama, japan: a population-based observational study |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2019-12-01 |
description |
The frequency of use of emergency telephone consultation (ETC) services, which is a telephone triage system in Japan, was explored to determine age- and sex-related trends on symptoms/events among Japanese adults. Data were obtained from records of the initial year of ETC services in Saitama Prefecture (from October 2014 to September 2015). Residents who used the ETC services were divided into four age groups (20−39, 40−64, 65−74, and ≥75 years old). The number of calls per 1000 persons (call rate, CR) was compared between the groups. The annual CR for the top 10 symptoms/events were assessed. The annual CR was 2.6/1000 persons. The annual CR was significantly higher for women (2.9) than for men (2.3) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). ETC use was the highest in the 20−39 age group for both sexes (3.3 and 4.4 in men and women, respectively). All groups had fever, abdominal pain, and nausea/vomiting in common. In older adults, the frequency of events such as bruises and head injury was high. Women and younger adults tended to use ETC services. There were similarities and differences in symptoms/events among the groups, which should be recognized by call centers to help foster call center staff. |
topic |
ambulances emergency medical services family member prehospital emergency care services sex differences telemedicine telephone triage |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/1/185 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT akihisanakamura ageandsexdifferencesintheuseofemergencytelephoneconsultationservicesinsaitamajapanapopulationbasedobservationalstudy AT toshiemanabe ageandsexdifferencesintheuseofemergencytelephoneconsultationservicesinsaitamajapanapopulationbasedobservationalstudy AT hiroyukiteraura ageandsexdifferencesintheuseofemergencytelephoneconsultationservicesinsaitamajapanapopulationbasedobservationalstudy AT kazuhikokotani ageandsexdifferencesintheuseofemergencytelephoneconsultationservicesinsaitamajapanapopulationbasedobservationalstudy |
_version_ |
1725917221499174912 |