Factors Affecting the Skill and Efficiency of Emergency Medical Service Staff in Mass Casualty Road Traffic Incidents: A Qualitative Study

Aims: Identifying the knowledge and skills of emergency medical technicians in mass casualty incidents can minimize the risks associated with the response. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors affecting the skill and efficiency of emergency medical service staff in mass casualty road traffic incidents. Participants Methods: The present research was conducted with a semi-structured qualitative method on 31 officials and personnel of pre-hospital emergency, Red Crescent and police forces who were selected by purposive sampling method from June 2018 to September 2019. Data were analyzed by conventional content analysis method. Findings: Effective factors on skill and efficiency were identified in the two main categories of professional performance (with 2 subcategories of triage requirements and challenges and functional deficiencies) and employee competence (with 4 subcategories of necessity for psychological recovery, professional competence improvement, technician skill improvement, and commitment and professional ethics). Conclusion: Inability in triage, functional deficiencies and lack of knowledge and skills related to trauma at the scene of the accident, cause disruption in the professional performance of emergency medical service staff. Unpredictable conditions put additional stress on relief workers on the scene. Improving knowledge and skills, psychological recovery, compliance with moral values, and efforts to improve professional qualifications will improve competence and increase skills and efficiency at work. By training people in first aid, people-oriented management and using people’s participation, people can be involved and their potential can be used to provide relief services.