Psychosocial Determinants of Work Ability Among Paramedics: Implications for Occupational Health-Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: Paramedics are routinely exposed to high psychosocial strain due to the demanding and unpredictable nature of emergency medical work. This study aimed to examine psychosocial and behavioral factors-working hours, stress, burnout, and physical activity-associated with self-reported work ability among paramedics in Poland. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between July 2023 and January 2024 among paramedics-whether active in Emergency Medical Services or holding a second degree and employed as a nurse-using the Polish version of the Work Ability Index and a stress and burnout assessment tool recommended by the European Commission. Statistical analyses, including Spearman correlation and group comparisons, were performed with a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: Work ability correlated positively with physical activity and negatively with age, stress, and burnout (p < 0.05). The strongest association was observed between stress and burnout (ρ = 0.837). Paramedics working in ambulance services reported significantly higher stress and burnout levels than hospital personnel (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002), although work ability did not differ by workplace. Conclusions: These findings indicate that psychosocial stress, burnout, and low physical activity substantially reduce work ability among paramedics, emphasizing the need for targeted preventive strategies-such as stress management, promotion of physical activity, and regulation of working hours-to support the health and sustainability of the emergency medical workforce.