Finnish paramedics' professional quality of life and associations with assignment experiences and defusing use - a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Paramedics experience traumatic events and social emergencies during assignments while also being subjected to verbal and physical threats. Consequently, they are at risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress, factors inherent to professional quality of life. Defusing and peer-support potentially decrease such symptoms; however, perceived defusing needs and use are not always balanced. Our aim was to explore Finnish paramedics' professional quality of life, using the Professional Quality of Life Scale, with associations to EMS assignment experiences as well as formal and informal defusing need and use over a 12-month period.

Methods

A quantitative study of 257 Finnish paramedics using a cross-sectional design. Study outcomes were secondary traumatic stress (S

SUBMITTER: Ericsson CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8490964 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature