ArticleInternational journal of emergency medicine2026
Evaluation of safety, comfort, and design ergonomics in ambulance retrieval vehicles: a survey in Southern India.
Article in International journal of emergency medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundAmbulance interior design influences the safety, comfort, and operational efficiency of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. However, evidence regarding ergonomic challenges faced by EMS providers in the Indian prehospital setting remains limited.
objectiveTo evaluate EMS personnel perspectives on ambulance ergonomics, safety, comfort, and factors affecting patient care during transport.
methodsA multicentre, cross-sectional survey-based observational study was conducted among Emergency Medical Technologists (EMTs) and paramedics, recruited by convenience sampling, who were involved in patient transport using standard Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances across Southern India. Data on ergonomic challenges, safety concerns, occupational injuries, and patient-care factors were collected using a questionnaire developed from existing literature and refined through focused-group discussion and expert content review. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests in jamovi.
resultsA total of 130 EMS providers participated. Limited patient-cabin space (60%) and difficulty accessing equipment (50%) were the most frequently reported factors affecting safety and comfort. Half of the respondents reported concerns regarding EMT seat positioning during patient care. Uneven roads (49.23%) and sudden vehicle breakdowns (41.53%) were the leading causes of transport-related injuries. CPR was the procedure most commonly associated with injuries to the care giver (53.84%), while back pain was the predominant occupational health hazard (57.69%). Significant associations were observed between work experience and perceptions of ambulance ergonomics, injury mechanisms, patient safety concerns, and occupational health hazards (p < 0.05).
conclusionEMS personnel reported substantial concerns regarding ambulance ergonomics, particularly seat positioning, equipment accessibility, cabin workspace, and occupational safety. These findings emphasize the importance of further ergonomic research in ambulance design to enhance operational ease during in transit care while assuring provider and patient safety.
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