evaluating and prioritizing factors affecting road traffic accident relief in iran

Introduction: timely delivery of emergency care and reduction of the transmission time of injured people to health centers is very effective in reducing the number of deaths and injuries in accidents. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting road traffic accident relief in iran with an emphasis on air transport. methods: the present study was performed through using multiple attribute decision making (madm) statistical techniques and operation research like analytic hierarchy process (ahp) by means of establishing hierarchy process, pairwise comparisons, combining weights, analyzing sensitivity, and ranking method, which were compatible with the research methods and type of variables. the study population consisted of 3759 managers, faculty members, experts in the field of rescue and relief, and road users. using the cochran sampling method, 349 participants were selected. they answered a researcher-made questionnaire about the factors affecting road traffic accident relief in iran; the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were approved. the collected data and research hypotheses were considered through statistical tests in expert choice software. findings: human factors, equipment factors, managerial factors, and environmental conditions criteria with relative weights of 0.3810, 0.3738, 0.2149, and 0.0303, respectively, had the highest effect on human casualties in rescue operations. assessment of the sub-criteria showed that the lack of a functional structure and appropriate organization to lead rescue operations, emergency and hospital personnel with insufficient expertise and skill, and delays in rescue, and increase in the time of rescue had the first places of importance, respectively. finally, prioritizing rescue operations based on the type of transportation indicated that air emergency, ground emergency, and red crescent rescue and relief, had, respectively, the first, second, and third places in reducing human casualties. conclusion: lack of expertise and skills of staff, equipment failure, and lack of a systematic structure in relief systems have increased damage to the injured, and, provided that the required infrastructure is created, air rescue must be prioritized over land relief due to its reduction in human casualties.