Psychosocial Risks among Emergency Medical Services Personnel.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychosocial Risk Assessment
• Emergency Medical Services

Background:

• Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel operate in demanding environments, increasing their vulnerability to psychosocial risks.
• Understanding these occupational hazards is crucial for enhancing worker well-being and implementing effective preventive measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze psychosocial risk factors among EMS personnel in Artvin, Turkey.
• To provide data-driven insights for developing targeted occupational health strategies within EMS.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized.
• Data were collected from 68 EMS personnel using sociodemographic forms and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire.
• Nonparametric statistical tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H) were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• 47.5% of EMS personnel reported high risk in at least one psychosocial domain.
• Female personnel experienced greater emotional demands and work-privacy conflict. Emergency medical technicians reported higher stress than paramedics.
• Extended working hours and 24-hour shifts correlated with increased stress and exhaustion.

Conclusions:

• Psychosocial risks are prevalent among EMS personnel, influenced by gender, professional role, and working conditions.
• Tailored interventions focusing on workload management, professional support, and organizational strategies are necessary.
• Addressing these factors is vital for improving the resilience and overall occupational health of EMS workers.