From Uncertainty to Competence: Decision-making Strategies of Volunteer Ambulance Responders in Low-resource Indonesia
- 1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Univeritas Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
- 2Faculty of Medicine, Univeritas Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
- 3Center of Excellence for Women, Family, and Disaster Studies, Universitas Aisyiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Abstract
Background: Volunteer ambulance personnel play a critical role in prehospital emergency care, especially in low-resource settings. However, limited attention has been given to how they make rapid decisions under uncertain and constrained conditions. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach, involving in-depth interviews with 20 experienced male volunteers aged 31-40 years with 4-7 years of emergency response experience in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Thematic analysis was used to explore decision-making processes during emergency responses Results: Four main themes emerged: Navigating emergencies with incomplete caller information; making rapid decisions despite limited equipment and environmental challenges; managing pressure from families and bystanders; and reflecting on confidence and identity shaped by repeated field experience. Volunteers relied on clinical intuition, teamwork, and improvisation to adapt to unpredictable situations. Conclusion: Volunteer responders in low-resource environments demonstrate strong adaptive capacity, emotional resilience, and field-based competence in critical decision-making. These findings highlight the need for structured training, institutional support, and policy integration to enhance their role in community-based emergency systems.
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BibTeX
@article{ramdani2026from,
title = {{From Uncertainty to Competence: Decision-making Strategies of Volunteer Ambulance Responders in Low-resource Indonesia}},
author = {Wawan Febri Ramdani and Yuni Kurniasih and Chintya Nur Faizah},
journal = {Health in Emergencies \& Disasters Quarterly},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From Uncertainty to Competence: Decision-making Strategies of Volunteer Ambulance Responders in Low-resource Indonesia
AU - Wawan Febri Ramdani
AU - Yuni Kurniasih
AU - Chintya Nur Faizah
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Health in Emergencies & Disasters Quarterly
AB - Background: Volunteer ambulance personnel play a critical role in prehospital emergency care, especially in low-resource settings. However, limited attention has been given to how they make rapid decisions under uncertain and constrained conditions. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach, involving in-depth interviews with 20 experienced male volunteers aged 31-40 years with 4-7 years of emergency response experience in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Thematic analysis was used to explore decision-making processes during emergency responses Results: Four main themes emerged: Navigating emergencies with incomplete caller information; making rapid decisions despite limited equipment and environmental challenges; managing pressure from families and bystanders; and reflecting on confidence and identity shaped by repeated field experience. Volunteers relied on clinical intuition, teamwork, and improvisation to adapt to unpredictable situations. Conclusion: Volunteer responders in low-resource environments demonstrate strong adaptive capacity, emotional resilience, and field-based competence in critical decision-making. These findings highlight the need for structured training, institutional support, and policy integration to enhance their role in community-based emergency systems.
SN - 2345-4210
ER -