Age and Sex Differences in the Use of Emergency Telephone Consultation Services in Saitama, Japan: A Population-Based Observational Study

Akihisa Nakamura, Toshie Manabe, Hiroyuki Teraura and Kazuhiko Kotani
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Akihisa Nakamura: Chichibu City Otaki National Health Insurance Clinic, 925 Otaki, Chichibu City 369-1901, Saitama, Japan
Toshie Manabe: Division of Community and Family Medicine, Center of Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-City 329-0498, Tochigi, Japan
Hiroyuki Teraura: Division of Community and Family Medicine, Center of Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-City 329-0498, Tochigi, Japan
Kazuhiko Kotani: Division of Community and Family Medicine, Center of Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-City 329-0498, Tochigi, Japan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: 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) ( p < 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.

Keywords: ambulances; emergency medical services; family member; prehospital emergency care services; sex differences; telemedicine; telephone triage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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