Workplace violence and burnout in the prehospital emergency medical services: a cross-sectional study

Prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) workers frequently face violence due to uncontrolled work environments, which may lead to burnout. This study aimed to examine workplace violence among paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Türkiye's prehospital EMS by analyzing its individual and occupational predictors, contextual features, and association with burnout subdimensions. This descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted between July and August 2024 among 1,013 paramedics and EMTs working in prehospital EMS across Türkiye. Verbal, physical, and sexual violence were assessed using the workplace violence questionnaire, and burnout was evaluated via the Maslach Burnout Inventory-human services survey. Of the participants, 64.4% (n = 652) were paramedics and 35.6% (n = 361) were EMTs. In the past 12 months, 85.5% (n = 866) of prehospital EMS workers experienced verbal violence, 26.5% (n = 268) experienced physical violence, and 12.5% (n = 127) experienced sexual violence at least once. Logistic regression analysis identified younger age, district-level work, and a higher number of monthly missions as significant predictors of workplace violence. Female participants and those with higher education levels had lower odds of physical and sexual violence, whereas low income increased the risk. Burnout levels among workers were moderate. Verbal, physical, and sexual violence increased emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, while verbal violence alone reduced personal accomplishment. Paramedics and EMTs working in chaotic, high-risk environments frequently face verbal, physical, and sexual violence from patients, relatives, and colleagues. Such violence has severe physical and psychological effects, heightening burnout levels. Protective security measures and social campaigns are essential to address this critical issue.