Use of Body Armor by EMS Clinicians, Workplace Violence, and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Care.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

There is a clear benefit to body armor against firearms; however, it remains unclear how these vests may influence day-to-day patient encounters when worn by emergency medical services (EMS).

Objective

To determine the association of ballistic vests worn by EMS clinicians with workplace violence (WPV) and disparities in care among racial and/or ethnic minority patients.

Design, setting, and participants

Prospective cohort study of a volunteer-based sample of EMS clinicians at a large, multistate EMS agency encompassing 15 ground sites across the Midwest from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Data were analyzed from May to June 2024.

Exposure

External ballistic armor being used by a group of self-selected clinicians on every run.

Main outcomes and

SUBMITTER: McGuire SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11780475 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature