Social Support, Self-efficacy, Trauma and Well-Being in Emergency Medical Dispatchers

Abstract

Emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) respond to crisis calls for ambulance; they dispatch paramedics and provide emotional and medical assistance to callers. Despite the stressful nature and exposure to potentially traumatising events in this role, there has been no published research specifically investigating well-being or posttraumatic growth among EMDs. Extrapolating from research conducted among other emergency services workers (e.g., paramedics, police), literature attests to the importance of self efficacy and social support in promoting mental health in emergency service workers. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of self efficacy, and giving and receiving social support on psychological well-being, posttraumatic growth (PTG), and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty EMDs (50 % response rate) completed an online questionnaire. Three hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to ascertain predictors of well-being, PTG and PTSD. Receiving social support emerged as a significant positive predictor of well-being and PTG, and a significant negative predictor of PTSD. Self efficacy was found to significantly and positively predict well-being, and shift-work was found to significantly and negatively predict PTSD. These results highlight that self efficacy and receiving social support are likely to be important for enhancing well-being within this population, and that receiving social support is also likely to facilitate positive post-trauma responses. Such findings have implications for the way emergency service personnel are educated with reference to aspects of mental health and how best to support personnel in order to achieve optimal mental health outcomes for all.

Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy for Trauma and Meaning Making Among Ethnically Diverse Individuals in the United States

“…For medical crisis, the unseen role of the EMD has historically been seemingly unrecognized both in literature and the public eye. But new research is emerging that shines light on the personal impacts for those who provide the first response remotely in an emergency (Adams, Shakespeare-Finch, & Armstrong, 2014;Shakespeare-Finch, Rees, & Armstrong, 2014).…”

Resilience Training for Firefighters

“…The researchers reported that older age was associated with higher levels of psychological stress, but that the coping strategy of seeking support from others predicted lower levels of post-traumatic stress in all groups . Receiving social support was related to increases in psychological well-being and post-traumatic growth, and to lower levels of PTSD incidence, in Australian emergency medical dispatchers (Shakespeare-Finch et al 2014). A study of Italian rescue workers found that degree of life satisfaction was associated with the workers' sense of community and collective efficacy (that is, their ability to work collaboratively and effectively) within their organization (Cicognani et al 2009).…”

“…Emergency medical dispatchers can experience vicarious, or secondary, trauma from dealing with stresses such as the need to make urgent decisions about traumatic events and judge situations based on incomplete information (Shakespeare-Finch et al 2014).…”

An investigation of relationship correlates and predictors of cultural adjustment among missionaries.

“…Relationships have been found to impact various aspects of both physical and psychological well-being (Brown, Nesse, Vinokur, & Smith, 2003;Caligiuri & Lazarova, 2002;Israel-Cohen, Kaplan, Noy, & Kashy-Rosenbaum, 2016;ShakespeareFinch & Obst, 2011;Shakespeare-Finch, Rees, & Armstrong, 2014).…”

“…Supportive relationships have been shown to help individuals dealing with stressful or difficult situations (Caligiuri & Lazarova, 2002;Israel-Cohen et al, 2016;Shakespeare-Finch et al, 2014). Understanding more about how a missionary's supportive relationships with God and other people can impact missionary adjustment to a new culture may help with the often-stressful adjustment process.…”