Psychosocial Work Stress and Occupational Stressors in Emergency Medical Services

Source avec lien : Healthcare, 11(7). 10.3390/healthcare11070976

Les professionnels des services médicaux d’urgence (SMU) subissent souvent un stress au travail, qui s’est intensifié au cours de l’épidémie COVID-19. La forte demande d’emploi dans la profession de SMU peut conduire à un déclin progressif de la santé physique et mentale. Nous avons étudié la prévalence du stress psychosocial au travail dans les trois niveaux de SMU : de base, avancé et paramédical, avant et pendant la pandémie de COVID-19.

Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals often experience work stress, which escalated during COVID-19. High job demand in the EMS profession may lead to progressive decline in physical and mental health. We investigated the prevalence of psychosocial job stress in the three levels of EMS: basic, advanced, and paramedic, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. EMS professionals (n = 36) were recruited from EMS agencies following the Institutional Review Board approval. Participants took surveys on demographics, personal characteristics, chronic diseases, and work schedules. Job stress indicators, namely the effort–reward ratio (ERR) and overcommitment (OC), were evaluated from survey questionnaires using the effort–reward imbalance model. Associations of job stress indicators with age, sex, body mass index, and working conditions were measured by logistic regression. Psychosocial work stress was prevalent with effort reward ratio > 1 in 83% of participants and overcommitment scores > 13 in 89% of participants. Age, body mass index, and work hours showed strong associations with ERR and OC scores. The investigation findings suggested that a psychosocial work environment is prevalent among EMS, as revealed by high ERR, OC, and their correlation with sleep apnea in rotating shift employees. Appropriate interventions may be helpful in reducing psychosocial work stress in EMS professionals.

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