What influences a decision to call 9-1-1?: exploring differential correlates for retired versus employed samples

In fall 2010, a phone survey of 318 retired and 362 employed respondents examined the decision to call 9-1-1 in a simulated emergency situation. Our study purpose was to investigate if there were different correlates between these two samples which would affect their decision to call 9-1-1. Different variables were measured to help explain this 9-1-1 call decision. Reliable scales for measuring the following variables were found: decision to call 9-1-1; emergency medical service (EMS) credentials importance; EMS wrongdoing license revocation; and EMS training consistency. Separate stepwise regression analyses, first controlling for a set of five demographic variables, then adding a set of five perceptual scales, were carried out for the retired and employed samples. After controlling for five demographic variables (race, marital status, age, overall health, and total 2009 income), three perceptual scales--EMS credentials importance, EMS wrongdoing license revocation, and EMS service comparison scales--each had a significant positive relationship to the retired sample's decision to call 9-1-1. For the employed sample, the perceived EMS training consistency scale had a positive relationship with the decision to call 9-1-1 beyond the controlled-for demographics. Study limitations included excluding cell phone users and the simulated emergency situation, while contributions included finding a number of reliable scales for future research.