Mental Health and Occupational Stress Among Emergency Telecommunicators: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Ian J Saldanha1, Enid Chung Roemer2, Edbert B Hsu3
1Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Prehospital Emergency Care
|February 12, 2025
Summary
Emergency telecommunicators face significant mental health and occupational stress issues, including depression and trauma. More research is urgently needed on interventions to build resilience in this vital workforce.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Emergency telecommunicators experience high rates of mental health challenges and occupational stress.
- Understanding the prevalence and severity of these issues is crucial for workforce well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the incidence, prevalence, and severity of mental health and occupational stress issues among emergency telecommunicators.
- To evaluate the effectiveness and harms of interventions aimed at enhancing resilience in this population.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive search of multiple databases (Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov) was conducted from 2001 to 2024.
- Included studies focused on telecommunicators in high-income countries, assessing mental health outcomes and interventions.
- Risk of bias was assessed, meta-analyses were performed, and strength of evidence was evaluated.
Main Results:
- No studies reported on the incidence of mental health issues.
- Prevalence estimates included: 15.5% depression, 12.4% suicidal ideation, 16.3% secondary traumatic stress, and 17% acute stress disorder.
- Severity ranged from mild/moderate for depression and stress to mild/severe for burnout. Post-critical incident stress was prevalent (39.7% high/medium general stress).
- Evidence on intervention effectiveness for mental health outcomes was insufficient.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence and severity of mental health and occupational stress issues in emergency telecommunicators require increased attention.
- Further research is essential to develop and validate effective interventions for improving workforce resilience.
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