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Text Messaging as a Strategy to Address the Limits of Audio-Based Communication During Mass-Gathering Events with High Ambient Noise

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2012

Adam Lund ,
Daniel Wong ,
Kerrie Lewis ,
Sheila A. Turris ,
Sean Vaisler  and
Samuel Gutman
Adam Lund*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Daniel Wong
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Kerrie Lewis
Affiliation:
Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sheila A. Turris
Affiliation:
Schools of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Sean Vaisler
Affiliation:
Mass Gathering Medicine Interest Group, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Samuel Gutman
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
*
Correspondence: Adam Lund, BSc, MD, MDE, FRCPC (Emergency) c/o Royal Columbian Hospital Emergency 330 East Columbia Street New Westminster, BC V3L 3W7 Canada E-mail [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction

The provision of medical care in environments with high levels of ambient noise (HLAN), such as concerts or sporting events, presents unique communication challenges. Audio transmissions can be incomprehensible to the receivers. Text-based communications may be a valuable primary and/or secondary means of communication in this type of setting.

Objectives

To evaluate the usability of text-based communications in parallel with standard two-way radio communications during mass-gathering (MG) events in the context of HLAN.

Methods

This Canadian study used outcome survey methods to evaluate the performance of communication devices during MG events. Ten standard commercially available handheld smart phones loaded with basic voice and data plans were assigned to health care providers (HCPs) for use as an adjunct to the medical team's typical radio-based communication. Common text messaging and chat platforms were trialed. Both efficacy and provider satisfaction were evaluated.

Results

During a 23-month period, the smart phones were deployed at 17 events with HLAN for a total of 40 event days or approximately 460 hours of active use. Survey responses from health care providers (177) and dispatchers (26) were analyzed. The response rate was unknown due to the method of recruitment. Of the 155 HCP responses to the question measuring difficulty of communication in environments with HLAN, 68.4% agreed that they “occasionally” or “frequently” found it difficult to clearly understand voice communications via two-way radio. Similarly, of the 23 dispatcher responses to the same item, 65.2% of the responses indicated that “occasionally” or “frequently” HLAN negatively affected the ability to communicate clearly with team members. Of the 168 HCP responses to the item assessing whether text-based communication improved the ability to understand and respond to calls when compared to radio alone, 86.3% “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that this was the case. The dispatcher responses (n = 21) to the same item also “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that this was the case 95.5% of the time.

Conclusion

The use of smart phone technology for text-based communications is a practical and feasible tool for MG events and should be explored further. Multiple, reliable, discrete forms of communication technology are pivotal to executing effective on-site medical and disaster responses.

LundA, WongD, LewisK, TurrisSA, VaislerS, GutmanS. Text Messaging as a Strategy to Address the Limits of Audio-Based Communication During Mass-Gathering Events with High Ambient Noise. Prehosp Disaster Med.2013;28(1):1-7.

Keywords

cellular phonecommunicationconcerthigh ambient noisemass-gathering medicineradiosmart-phonetext messaging
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 2 - 7
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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