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Confronting mobile phone signal coverage and helicopter emergency medical service travel time: A geospatial analysis in the northwest macro-region of Paraná State, Brazil.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gustavo de Paulo, L; Massago, M; Iora, PH; Bitencourt, MR; Gurgel, SJT; Silva, MD; Toledo, ERDS; Gabella, JL; Costa, JLL; Rossoni, DF; Hoff, J ...
Published in: Traffic Inj Prev
2024

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct a detailed geospatial analysis of mobile phone signal coverage in the northwest macro-region of Paraná State, Brazil, seeking to identify areas where limitations in coverage may be related to lengthy travel times of the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) for the assistance of victims of road traffic injuries (RTIs). METHODS: An observational study was conducted to examine mobile phone signal coverage and HEMS travel times from 2017 to 2021. HEMS travel times were categorized into four groups: T1 (0-15 min), T2 (16-30 min), T3 (31-45 min), and T4 (over 45 min). Empirical Bayesian Kriging was used to map areas with low mobile signal coverage. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner comparative analyses were performed to explore how mobile signal coverage relates to HEMS travel times to RTI locations. RESULTS: There were 470 occurrences of RTIs attended by HEMS, of which 108 (23%) resulted in on-site fatalities. Among these deaths, 47 (26.85%) occurred in areas with low mobile phone signal coverage ("shadow areas"). Low mobile phone signal coverage identified at 175 (37.24%) RTIs locations, was unevenly distributed across the macro-region. The lowest medians of mobile signal quality were predominantly found in areas with HEMS travel times exceeding 30 min, corresponding to signal strength values of -98.44 (T3) and -100.75 (T4) dBm. This scenario represents a challenge for effective communication to activate HEMS. In the multiple comparison analysis among travel time groups, significant differences were observed between T1 and T2 (p < 0.001), T1 and T3 (p < 0.001), T1 and T4 (p < 0.001), and T2 and T3 (p < 0.001), indicating a potential association between lower mobile phone signal coverage and longer HEMS travel times. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that poor mobile phone signals in remote areas can hinder HEMS activation, potentially delaying the start of treatment for RTIs. Identification of the shadow areas can help communication and health managers in designing and implementing the necessary changes to improve mobile phone signal coverage and consequently reduce delays in the initial response to RTIs.

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Published In

Traffic Inj Prev

DOI

EISSN

1538-957X

Publication Date

2024

Volume

25

Issue

7

Start / End Page

933 / 939

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Time Factors
  • Spatial Analysis
  • Male
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Humans
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Cell Phone
  • Brazil
  • Air Ambulances
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Gustavo de Paulo, L., Massago, M., Iora, P. H., Bitencourt, M. R., Gurgel, S. J. T., Silva, M. D., … de Andrade, L. (2024). Confronting mobile phone signal coverage and helicopter emergency medical service travel time: A geospatial analysis in the northwest macro-region of Paraná State, Brazil. Traffic Inj Prev, 25(7), 933–939. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2024.2355584
Gustavo de Paulo, Luiz, Miyoko Massago, Pedro Henrique Iora, Marcos Rogério Bitencourt, Sanderland José Tavares Gurgel, Marcelo da Silva, Erika Rodrigues da Silva Toledo, et al. “Confronting mobile phone signal coverage and helicopter emergency medical service travel time: A geospatial analysis in the northwest macro-region of Paraná State, Brazil.Traffic Inj Prev 25, no. 7 (2024): 933–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2024.2355584.
Gustavo de Paulo L, Massago M, Iora PH, Bitencourt MR, Gurgel SJT, Silva MD, et al. Confronting mobile phone signal coverage and helicopter emergency medical service travel time: A geospatial analysis in the northwest macro-region of Paraná State, Brazil. Traffic Inj Prev. 2024;25(7):933–9.
Gustavo de Paulo, Luiz, et al. “Confronting mobile phone signal coverage and helicopter emergency medical service travel time: A geospatial analysis in the northwest macro-region of Paraná State, Brazil.Traffic Inj Prev, vol. 25, no. 7, 2024, pp. 933–39. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/15389588.2024.2355584.
Gustavo de Paulo L, Massago M, Iora PH, Bitencourt MR, Gurgel SJT, Silva MD, Toledo ERDS, Gabella JL, Costa JLL, Rossoni DF, Hoff J, Joiner AP, de Andrade L. Confronting mobile phone signal coverage and helicopter emergency medical service travel time: A geospatial analysis in the northwest macro-region of Paraná State, Brazil. Traffic Inj Prev. 2024;25(7):933–939.

Published In

Traffic Inj Prev

DOI

EISSN

1538-957X

Publication Date

2024

Volume

25

Issue

7

Start / End Page

933 / 939

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Time Factors
  • Spatial Analysis
  • Male
  • Logistics & Transportation
  • Humans
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Cell Phone
  • Brazil
  • Air Ambulances