The status of prehospital care delivery for COVID-19 patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The study emphasizing adverse events occurring in prehospital transport and associated factors

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 patients may require emergency medical services for emergent treatment and/or transport to a hospital for further treatment. However, it is common for the patients to experience adverse events during transport, even the shortest transport may cause life-threatening conditions. Most of the studies that have been done on prehospital care of COVID-19 patients were conducted in developed countries. Differences in population demographics and economy may limit the generalizability of available studies. So, this study was aimed at investigating the status of prehospital care delivery for COVID-19 patients in Addis Ababa focusing on adverse events that occurred during transport and associated factors. METHODS: A total of 233 patients consecutively transported to Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College from November 6 to December 31, 2020, were included in the study. A team of physicians and nurses collected the data using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, and ordinal logistic regression was carried out to assess the association between explanatory variables and the outcome variable. Results are presented using frequency, percentage, chi-square, crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The overall level of adverse events in prehospital setting was 44.2%. Having history of at least one chronic medical illness, [AOR3.2 (95%; CI; 1.11–9.53)]; distance traveled to reach destination facility, [AOR 0.11(95%; CI; 0.02–0.54)]; failure to recognize and administer oxygen to the patient in need of oxygen, [AOR 15.0(95%; CI; 4.0–55.7)]; absent or malfunctioned suctioning device, [AOR 4.0(95%; CI; 1.2–13.0)]; patients handling mishaps, [AOR 12.7(95%; CI; 2.9–56.8)] were the factors associated with adverse events in prehospital transport of COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: There were a significant proportion of adverse events in prehospital care among COVID-19 patients. Most of the adverse events were preventable. There is an urgent need to strengthen prehospital emergency care in Ethiopia by equipping the ambulances with essential and properly functioning equipment and trained manpower. Awareness creation and training of transport staff in identifying potential hazards, at-risk patients, adequate documentation, and patient handling during transport could help to prevent or minimize adverse events in prehospital care.