Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence against pre-hospital emergency health workers

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Violence against pre-hospital emergency health workers is a growing problem worldwide and negatively impacts the effectiveness of emergency services. The social distancing, isolation and quarantine measures that have been employed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have also had economic and psychosocial effects. Therefore, it is important to explore how the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced these violent incidents that interfere with the work of emergency medical services (EMS). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate how violence against EMS workers has been impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study takes an interpretive social science approach, using the qualitative method of in-depth semi-structured interviewing. Audio of the interviews was recorded with the interviewee’s consent. Sound recordings were transcribed and their content was categorised into themes. Categorised texts were then evaluated using descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Participants reported that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they encountered more violence than usual on EMS assignments to non-emergency situations, though a sense of gratitude towards health workers at the beginning of the pandemic and positives attitudes towards health workers also contributed to reduced violence towards them. The data indicate that workplace violence among EMS employees has increased as the problems caused by the pandemic have intensified, suggesting that additional measures need to be taken to protect them. CONCLUSION: In parallel with an increase in social violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, violence against EMS workers also increased in prevalence. A multidimensional approach should now be taken to determine how violence against EMS employees will be affected by risks such as the intergenerational transmission of social violence, a psychosocial repercussion of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially considering the increasing workplace violence among EMS employees.

Violent Experiences Suffered by Pre-Hospital Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…During the pandemic in particular, the denial of HCW resignations was an extremely damaging regulation for personnel who were psychologically and physically exhausted during this period. [30][31][32] They had already taken on more responsibility and were under triage obligation; as a result of the long working hours and the increase in hospital occupancy, the negative impact on HCWs intensified.…”

Investigation of Psychological Stress and Sleep Quality of Emergency Medical Technicians in Taiwan Fire Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…It uses 21 questions and sums the scores to understand an individual's recent state of the three emotions. Depression was rated as mild (10)(11)(12)(13), moderate (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), severe (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), or very severe (≥28). Anxiety was rated as mild (8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), or very severe (≥20).…”

“…Anxiety was rated as mild (8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), or very severe (≥20). Stress was rated as mild (15)(16)(17)(18), moderate (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25), severe (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33), or very severe (≥34). Generally, a moderate level or above can be a sufficient reason to seek specialist interventions [28].…”