What variables affect public perceptions for EMS meeting general community needs?

In the fall, 2010, a phone survey of 928 respondents examined two research questions: does the general public perceive Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as meeting their community needs? And what factors or correlates help to explain EMS meeting community needs? To maximize geographical representation across the contiguous United States, a clustered stratified sampling strategy was used based upon zip codes across the 48 states. Results showed strong support by the sample for perceiving that EMS was meeting their general community needs. 17 percent of the variance in EMS meeting community needs was collectively explained by the demographic and perceptual variables in the regression model. Of the correlates tested, the strongest relationship was found between greater admiration for EMS professionals and higher perception of EMS meeting community needs. Study limitations included sampling households with only landline (no cell) phones, using a simulated emergency situation, and not collecting gender data.

Exploring relationships to three types of occupation perceptions: forced to stay in occupation, voluntary occupation withdrawal intent, and involuntary occupation withdrawal.

This study explored the relationships of demographic, work perception, work attitude, and limited occupation alternative variables to three distinct types of occupation perceptions: forced to stay in occupation (FTSO), voluntary occupation withdrawal intent (VOWI), and involuntary occupation withdrawal (IOW). An online sample of massage therapists and bodywork practitioners constituted the study sample. Hierarchical regression analyses for each occupation perception utilized slightly different sample sizes (i.e., FTSO, n = 1,982; VOWI, n = 2,039; IOW, n = 2,028) to test the study hypotheses. Regression results suggested some differential correlates for each perception, including the following: education level was negatively related to FTSO whereas occupation identification was positively related to FTSO, realistic expectations were negatively related to VOWI, and years in practice was positively related to IOW. Perceived limited occupational alternatives were positively related to FTSO but negatively related to VOWI. There were also common correlates across these perceptions. For example, work exhaustion had a positive relationship to FTSO, VOWI, and IOW. Affective occupational commitment was positively related to FTSO but negatively related to VOWI and IOW. Social desirability response bias had a consistently negative but minimal impact on these occupation perceptions. Despite acknowledged limitations, this study is unique in comparing such occupation perceptions and hopefully will stimulate additional research using other allied health samples.