The Spector Job Satisfaction Survey: Associations of Satisfaction with Leaving EMS

Detailed job satisfaction evaluations are often used to build strategies for employee retention. Despite recognizing that emergency medical services (EMS) dissatisfaction drives turnover, validated tools rigorously evaluating satisfaction have not been employed. We aim to assess the association between EMS clinician satisfaction and their likelihood of leaving the profession using the validated Spector Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS).

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of nationally certified EMS clinicians in the United States recertifying between October 2022 and April 2023. Our primary outcome was the self-reported likelihood of leaving EMS within 12 months (likely or not likely to leave). The primary exposure was job satisfaction, assessed using the 36-item JSS, scored from 36 to 216, and analyzed in two models: total satisfaction (dissatisfied [scores 36-108], ambivalent [108-144], satisfied [144-216]), and satisfaction subscales (e.g., pay, promotion, supervision). We applied Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression to identify key predictors of intent to leave EMS, adjusting for demographic and agency characteristics. Post-LASSO Bayesian logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% credible intervals (CrI).

Among 33,414 EMS clinicians (response rate: 26.3%), the median age was 36 years (IQR: 29,46), 74.2% were male, and 83.0% were White, non-Hispanic. Most respondents worked full-time (77.6%), primarily as EMTs (48.5%), in urban settings (89.9%). Mean satisfaction scores were higher among those not likely to leave EMS (146.7 [standard deviation: 29.0]) than those likely to leave (121.2 [28.4]). Odds of leaving decreased for more satisfied clinicians: ambivalent clinicians [0.35 (0.32-0.38)]; satisfied clinicians [0.11 (0.10-0.13)]; referent dissatisfied. Additionally, specific satisfaction subscales were associated with lower odds of leaving for those satisfied compared to those dissatisfied, including nature of work [0.32 (0.28-0.37)], pay [0.46 (0.40-0.52)], promotion opportunities [0.53 (0.47-0.61)], supervision [0.65 (0.57-0.73)] and contingent rewards [0.77 (0.67-0.88)].

The EMS clinicians with higher satisfaction with their nature of work, pay, and promotion opportunities were less likely to report intent to leave. These findings highlight key factors that may inform workforce retention efforts.