Effects of workload and distance traveled on psychological resilience and values among emergency healthcare workers.

Abstract

Background/aim: Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel face significant challenges in their daily work, which can lead to burnout and affect their mental well-being. This study aimed to investigate how workload and distance traveled, as specific aspects of EMS work, influence the psychological resilience and values of EMS personnel. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Spiritual and Humanistic Value Scale (SHVS) were utilized to assess psychological resilience and values, respectively.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among EMS personnel in Ankara, Türkiye, utilizing a questionnaire survey distributed between 23 and 30 May 2024. The study was approved by the Medical Research Scientific and Ethical Evaluation Board of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. A total of 293 EMS personnel participated after providing informed consent and approval. The participants were categorized into 3 groups based on their case/distance ratio. We used the CD-RISC and SHVS to compare psychological resilience and values between the groups.

Results: Significant differences were observed according to various sociodemographic and work-related variables among the participating EMS personnel. Younger personnel tended to handle more cases, while older personnel traveled longer distances on average (p < 0.001). Education level and experience also influenced workload allocation, with less experienced individuals and those with lower education levels handling more cases (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in CD-RISC and SHVS scores between the considered groups; however, we identified significant differences based on sex (p = 0.005) for the CD-RISC and based on age (p < 0.05) and experience (p < 0.05) for the SHVS.

Conclusion: This study highlights the complex relationship among workload, sociodemographic factors, and psychological resilience/values in EMS personnel. Older, more experienced personnel tended to exhibit higher resilience and values scores, suggesting greater adaptation and satisfaction. Understanding these dynamics can aid in developing targeted interventions to prevent burnout and promote the well-being of EMS personnel.