Last update:
18-Feb-2025

OBJECTIVE To investigate the perceptions of persons concerning the "inappropriate" utilization of the Greek Emergency Medical Services (EKAB) services.

METHOD The research sample included 291 patients who had requested transportation to the hospital from EKAB. We assessed the views of those utilizing EKAB services via a questionnaire, and we measured the differentiation of their perceptions based on their demographic characteristics regarding the "inappropriate" use of EKAB services. The evaluation of "inappropriate" usage focused on the possibilities for safe transportation of patients to the hospital without the need of an ambulance.

RESULTS The main reason for calling EKAB is to improve access to medical care and the various health care services in our country (M=4.56/5.0). Many patients seek the help of EKAB for conditions that do not require immediate medical treatment, such as simple fevers or mild stomach upsets (18.9%), or consequences of injury, poisoning, or even a sprain from a fall (17.5%). However, according to the responses of EKAB employees, the majority of these cases (48.8%) could be transferred to the health formation without an ambulance. As can be seen, the patients' opinion about the "unnecessary" use of EKAB services does not seem to differ from the way they were transported safely (with or without an ambulance) to the hospital (p=0.659), nor from demographic data, such as gender (p=0.769) or cohabitation (p=0.155).

CONCLUSIONS There is a pressing need for a fundamental shift in the overarching culture and communication policies surrounding the EKAB, particularly concerning the definition of quality patient care and its safe and timely delivery.

Key words: Inappropriate use of services, National Emergency Aid Center, Patients, Patients' safety.