Work stress in emergency medical technicians

Abstract

To better understand the dynamics underlying their high turnover rate, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were asked to participate in a union-sponsored study. Fifty-two percent of 200 EMT union members returned the three mailed questionnaires: the Occupational Stress Index, which assesses stress, strain, and coping; the Staff Burnout Scale for Health Professionals; and a survey that probed areas of job satisfaction. The sample had high stress, strain, and burnout scores. Coping skills were within the normal range. Burnout, stress, strain, and coping (BSS&C) were significantly related to job satisfaction, worry about infectious diseases, and perceptions of being poorly treated by emergency room personnel and fire fighters. BSS&C also were related to being upset by "runs" related to injuries from violence, drug overdoses, and exposure. Job dissatisfaction was related to attitudes that the job adversely affects one's family, that the EMT quarters are uncomfortable, and that administrators are not knowledgeable of the job demands and skills of EMTs. Areas of great discontent were the low salary of the profession and the inadequacy of the equipment.