Emergency Medical Services Perception of the Use of Wearables in Patient Management During Mass Casualty Incident...

This study explored Italian Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals' perceptions regarding a hypothetical wearable device during Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs), aiming to improve MCI management and patient outcomes. The device includes patient identifier, vital sign monitoring, LED-based triage coding, geolocation, and real-time data transmission. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention to use the device were measured.

An anonymous online survey was distributed to the 67 EMS dispatch centers across Italy. After an introduction to the device, participants answered demographic and TAM-based questions using a seven-point scale.

Among the 141 respondents, most were males (60.3%), nurses (66.7%), and reported over 10 years of EMS experience (63.1%); 51.8% had prior MCI response experience. The wearable device was positively rated for improving situational awareness and coordination, with concerns about workflow integration and potential rescue delays. The questionnaire showed high internal reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.96). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted distinct perceptions between features supporting scene coordination and those enhancing triage accuracy.

The study highlights the perceived value of the wearable in improving MCI coordination and situational awareness. However, concerns regarding workflow integration and possible rescue delays warranted further research on real-world application.