Emergency healthcare providers perception of workplace dangers in the polish Emergency Medical Service: a multi-centre survey study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There are many risk factors that account for hazards in paramedics' and ambulance nurses' profession. Driving a vehicle, having contact with patients, making difficult medical decisions, doing night shifts and working in a stressful environment, all of those features negatively affect their health. The aim of the study was to evaluate paramedics' and ambulance nurses attitude towards personal safety, to assess their subjective feeling of danger, as well as identify types of hazards they experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out via a diagnostic survey method, an anonymous questionnaire. Among 572 responders there were nurses and paramedics, who work in non-physician medical rescue teams in Poland. RESULTS: Most of the surveyed medics (40.5%) have rated the level of danger of their occupation to 4 on a scale from 1 to 5, with the greatest hazard being posed by patients under the influence of designer drugs. As many as 43% of medics have had back-related problems and 41% have suffered injuries at work. Notwithstanding, a majority of respondents have admitted that if they could plan their career again, they would choose the same profession. CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital healthcare providers have generally rated their work as dangerous. More attention should be paid to teach first responders how to deal with aggression and how to handle stress. Efforts should be made to increase paramedics' and nurses' awareness about health problems related to shift work.

Factors Influencing Occupational Stress Perceived by Emergency Nurses During Prehospital Care: A Systematic Review

“… 27 These studies were carried out in 8 different countries: 5 in Iran; 21 , 27 , 43 , 54 , 55 2 in Sweden 23 , 28 and Brazil; 5 , 53 and 1 in Ireland, 51 USA, 52 Switzerland, 56 Spain, 36 and Poland. 57 The total sample was n=2475 participants from various healthcare professions; in the specific case of nursing specialised in prehospital emergencies, n=855 (34.5%) were nurses. Table 4 shows the characteristics of each of the 14 final articles for this review.…”

“…Despite this, it is physical violence that entailed greater negative repercussions for the mental health of the professional. LE: C DR: 2 T. Klosiewicz et al 2019 57 Poland To assess the attitude of ambulance nurses and personnel towards personal safety and subjective sense of danger, as well as to identify the types of dangers they experience. 1.…”

“…43 , 51 Pressure towards the professional. 28 , 36 , 43 , 52 , 56 , 57 Specialisation and training in emergencies. 51 Violence de-escalations.…”

“…The emergency respondents’ perception of the most threatening situation would be, first, the interaction with patients who have taken designer drugs, followed by drunk patients and those with mental disorders. 57 …”

Accidents rate of the Polish State Fire Service officers during service in the years 2015–2022

“…There are many risk factors contributing to the hazards of work for medical rescuers and nurses of Medical Rescue Teams. Firefighters, who often carry out medical actions jointly with National Medical Rescue Units, or independently when they arrive first at the scene, fit into this mechanism [27].…”