Stress in Norwegian Ambulance Personnel
Author Information
Author(s): Tom Sterud, Erlend Hem, Øivind Ekeberg, Bjørn Lau
Primary Institution: University of Oslo
Hypothesis
Ambulance personnel report a generally high frequency and severity level of stressors.
Conclusion
Ambulance-specific stressors were reported as both more severe and more frequently occurring stressors than were organizational stressors.
Supporting Evidence
- Serious operational tasks and physical demands were identified as the two most severe stressors.
- Lack of support from co-workers was the most severe and frequent organizational stressor.
- Higher frequency of stressors was associated with size of service districts and working overtime.
Takeaway
Ambulance workers often feel stressed due to their job, especially from specific tasks like dealing with serious injuries, and they need more support from their coworkers.
Methodology
A nationwide questionnaire survey of ambulance personnel in operational duty, using various validated stress assessment tools.
Potential Biases
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
Limitations
The response rate was relatively low, which may question the representativeness of the data.
Participant Demographics
76.8% men, 23.2% women, ages ranged from 18 to 66 years, mean age 36.8.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website