Afshin Khazaei, Mohammad Torabi, Maryam Shayganihonar, Ali Reza Bayat
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, there has been a substantial increase in the demand for prehospital services. Emergency medical service (EMS) providers have encountered a myriad of challenges that have had a discernible impact on their professional performance. This study was designed to explore the challenges faced by EMS providers during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This qualitative research was conducted using a content analysis approach at emergency medical centers affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in Iran between April and August 2021. This study included the participation of 21 EMS personnel, which was conducted using purposive sampling and semistructured interviews, and continued until data saturation was reached. The conventional content analysis method, as outlined by Graneheim and Lundman, was applied for data analysis.
Results: The analysis of the interview data resulted in the identification of 219 primary codes, which were then organized into ten distinct categories. These categories were further consolidated into three overarching themes: personal safety challenges, professional-organizational challenges, and threatened mental health.
Conclusions: EMS personnel play a critical role in healthcare during disasters and pandemics, facing challenges that can have negative effects. Managing these challenges can impact mental health and professional well-being, but awareness, support, resources, and services can help mitigate adverse consequences.
期刊介绍:
BMC Emergency Medicine is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all urgent and emergency aspects of medicine, in both practice and basic research. In addition, the journal covers aspects of disaster medicine and medicine in special locations, such as conflict areas and military medicine, together with articles concerning healthcare services in the emergency departments.