Relationship between conventional workload surrogates and VACP assessments in emergency medical services

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Authors
Ercolani, Jenna
Advisors
Cure, Laila
Issue Date
2024-04-12
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Abstract
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Citation
Ercolani, Jenna. 2024. Relationship between conventional workload surrogates and VACP assessments in emergency medical services. -- In Proceedings: 23rd Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p. 8
Abstract

Workload surrogates commonly used in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to evaluate the efforts of crewmembers throughout their workday have not been validated. This study investigated the relationship between workload assessments and surrogate metrics that can be calculated using conventional EMS dispatch data systems. Workload was assessed at random points in time during random shifts using the Visual, Auditory, Cognitive, Psychomotor (VACP) approach. Direct observation was used to assess the VACP scores of individual tasks commonly performed by ambulance crewmembers. Dispatch data was mapped to VACP score profiles through a trace-based simulation approach that adds random samples of tasks sequences and durations to the timestamps available in the EMS data. Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to quantify the relationship between the average time-weighted VACP workload and EMS metrics. Overall utilization and call response utilization explained time-weighted VACP the best, with strong positive correlations (0.88 and 0.89, respectively) and significant linear regression models (with ² and ² respectively). Call volume yielded the lowest correlation (0.61) and ²values (0.41) of the metrics studied, challenging its validity in fairly representing workload.

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Description
Presented to the 23rd Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) held at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University, April 12, 2024.
Publisher
Wichita State University
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Series
URCAF;v.23
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