General and specific individual post-traumatic stress disorder-related mechanisms among paramedics

Jasielska, Aleksandra; Ziarko, Michał

doi:10.13075/mp.5893.00757

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As we expected, the analysis results showed that in the studied group, alexithymia was not highly correlated with symptoms of PTSD. A similar effect was observed in comparable studies conducted on emergency workers [ 41 , 56 ]. In this context, it is difficult to clarify whether alexithymia is a risk factor for PTSD or its consequences.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mediating Role of Stress at Work in the Relationship of Alexithymia and PTSD among Emergency Call Operators

Wojciechowska

Jasielska

Ziarko

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim: The main purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia, stress at work, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in impact emergency call center operators working in Poland (province of Greater Poland). The risk of exposure to critical life events was also considered. Methods: Data were collected using self-report questionnaires administered after dispatchers’ shifts. The emergency call center operators (N = 66) completed the Impact of Event Scale—Revised, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Workplace Perceived Stress Questionnaire, and a questionnaire measuring the frequency and intensity of potentially traumatic events faced by emergency operators (a questionnaire developed by the authors). Results: Twenty of the most frequent events (e.g., child sexual harassment, rape, etc.) were identified. Results indicated that post-traumatic stress positively correlated with (a) work-related stress and (b) one aspect of alexithymia: difficulty expressing feelings. Additionally, work-related stress was identified as a mediator for the relation between alexithymia and the intensity of post-traumatic stress. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm that emergency operators are a high-risk group for the development of PTSD. The study results suggest that performing the work of an emergency dispatcher is not only demanding but also inherently involves participation in potentially traumatic events (as encountered through emergency calls).

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Different PSAPs may present different job demands as well as resources. These issues may limit the representativeness of the obtained results [ 56 ]. Further, the lack of a control group (nonemergency workers) or comparative group (other emergency workers) is a major limitation in our study [ 57 , 58 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediating Role of Stress at Work in the Relationship of Alexithymia and PTSD among Emergency Call Operators

Wojciechowska

Jasielska

Ziarko

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The aim of the current study was to establish the role of personal resources (resilience) in the experience of stress by paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience was taken as a measure of personal resources, as during a pandemic situation, strategies of coping with stress are revealed to be insufficient, especially against traumatic stress (Jasielska and Ziarko, 2019).…”

Section: The Aim Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilience and Subjectively Experienced Stress Among Paramedics Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionParamedics play a vital role in the healthcare system by providing professional support in situations of direct threat to patient health and life. They experience numerous difficulties during their work, which result in occupational stress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their work has become even more demanding. The aim of the current study was to examine the role of resilience in the subjective experience of stress among paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methodsThe study was carried out in two phases, in October-November 2019 (N = 75) and in May-June 2020 (N = 84), using the Sense of Stress Questionnaire (Skala Poczucia Stresu) and the Resilience Scale (Skala Pomiaru Prężności).ResultsParamedics exhibited higher intrapsychic stress before the COVID-19 pandemic. Tolerance of failure and treating life as a challenge were higher during the pandemic, in contrast to optimism and the ability to mobilize in difficult situations. Paramedics who were in contact with patients with COVID-19 experienced higher stress. Perseverance and determination, openness to new experiences and sense of humor, as well as competences and tolerance of negative emotions were revealed to play a key part in mitigating subjectively experienced stress.ConclusionParamedics’ subjectively experienced stress was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paramedics who were in direct contact with patients with COVID-19 experienced higher stress. They had sufficient psychological resources, in the form of resilience (perseverance and determination, openness to new experiences, sense of humor, and competences and tolerance of negative emotions), which allowed them to cope with the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

show abstract

“…She indicated that personal resources such as coping strategies were not sufficient coping mechanisms for dealing with traumatic stress. (Jasielska & Ziarko, 2019). In Khan research anxiety was reported by 60% of respondents, 32% of respondents reported depression, around 50% of the respondents were exposed to shift work sleep, 33% reported insomnia, 78% reported severe fatigue, and 23% reported excessive daytime sleepiness (Khan disorders et al, 2018).…”

Section: Consequences Of Stress Among Paramedic Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jasielska study showed that more than 50%of paramedics showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which can be a prognostic factor for the development of PTSD among that group (Jasielska & Ziarko, 2019). She indicated that personal resources such as coping strategies were not sufficient coping mechanisms for dealing with traumatic stress.…”

Section: Consequences Of Stress Among Paramedic Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Working Conditions on Stress and Its Effects in the Group of Paramedics: A Systematic Review

Wojtysiak

Wielgus

Zielińska-Więczkowska

2021

HSSR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: This is a review to assess the working conditions that affect the stress level of paramedics and their ability to cope with stress. The profession of a paramedic is characterized by constant contact with other people and exposure to many factors, including biological (HIV, flu virus), chemical (causing allergic reactions, burns) physical (noise, low or excessive temperature), psychosocial (aggression, violence, traumatic experiences). Methodology: This is a Systematic review paper. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google scholar search were used to analyze the problem. The following keywords were used to search for information sources: paramedic, working conditions, medical rescue, ambulance, stress, coping with stress. Articles were selected according to the impact of working conditions on stress and its consequences among the group of paramedics. Main Findings: The work of a rescuer is a constant action under the influence of a high level of stress and emotions, caused by an unforeseen sequence of events and time pressure. The long-term presence of negative factors is the cause of the appearance of burnout syndrome, rumination, PTSD, and somatic symptoms related to stress in the workplace. It can result in a deterioration of the quality of patient care. Implications of this study: The above results should be taken into account by units of the emergency medical care system. The paper indicates the occurrence of negative psychological effects of work-related stress and as a consequence the need to train the personnel in the field of stress-coping techniques and to provide emergency medical service workers with mental health monitoring and psychological care in the workplace. Novelty in this study: There is a lack of systematic reviews of the impact of working conditions on the mental health of workers in emergency medical care services. The paper is an attempt to assess the impact of working conditions on stress and its effects on the group of paramedics and other emergencies medical care system employees.

show abstract

General and specific individual post-traumatic stress disorder-related mechanisms among paramedics

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

Mediating Role of Stress at Work in the Relationship of Alexithymia and PTSD among Emergency Call Operators

Mediating Role of Stress at Work in the Relationship of Alexithymia and PTSD among Emergency Call Operators

Resilience and Subjectively Experienced Stress Among Paramedics Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Impact of Working Conditions on Stress and Its Effects in the Group of Paramedics: A Systematic Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About