The effect of public training on the proper use of prehospital emergency services: A survey in southeast Iran

Background: Improper use of emergency medical services can lead to significant physical and financial burdens on healthcare systems. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of public education on the proper use of prehospital emergency services in Rafsanjan, Iran. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used, comparing data from 3 months before and 3 months after an educational intervention conducted between January and July 2020. The training program, titled “Proper Use of Pre-Hospital Emergency Services,” was developed by researchers and approved by the prehospital emergency organization. It targeted both urban and rural populations. Data were collected using a researcher-made checklist and analyzed with SPSS version 22 using the chi-squared test. Results: Following the intervention, we observed a significant increase in the proportion of urgent calls (p < 0.001) alongside a significant reduction in nonurgent and prank calls (p < 0.001). Additionally, the number of false missions decreased after the training. Conclusions: The findings indicate that public education may lead to fewer unnecessary calls and enhanced efficiency in emergency response systems. It is recommended that emergency service managers and staff implement similar training programs to enhance public awareness, reduce system overload, and allocate resources more effectively.