Comparison of emergency department diagnoses and emergency medical services providers' initial assessment diagnoses

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and quality of prehospital assessments and preliminary diagnoses made by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers compared to the final diagnoses given by Emergency Department physicians in a metropolitan area. METHODS: This retrospective observational study utilized records from the Yenimahalle EMS Command Center in Ankara, Turkiye, from January 1, 2021, to December 31,2022. Data were recorded as cases rather than individual patients, with repeated EMS admissions counted separately. Cases were categorized by EMS call time, reasons for EMS requests, age, gender, nationality, and weekday of hospital arrival to assess socioeconomic impacts and congestion patterns. The study included 2.528 pediatric cases, excluding patients aged I8 and older, those who refused EMS transfer, and cases resolved at the scene. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 27.0, with statistical significance set at p