Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Ambulance Officers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s)
Kitti Máté-Póhr, BSc, MSc1, József Betlehem, BSc, MSc, PhD2, János Haness, MD, MSc3, Alex Kulcsár, .4, Annamaria Pakai, MSc, RN, PhD2, Imre Boncz, MSc, PhD, MD5, Ákos Jászkuti, MD, MSc6, Emese Sánta, BSc, MSc, PhD7.
1Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Pécs, Szombathely, Hungary, 2Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 3National Ambulance Service, Szombathely, Hungary, 4National Ambulance Service, Budapest, Hungary, 5Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 6National Ambulance Service, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, 7University of Győr, Győr, Hungary.
1Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Pécs, Szombathely, Hungary, 2Institute of Emergency Care, Pedagogy of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 3National Ambulance Service, Szombathely, Hungary, 4National Ambulance Service, Budapest, Hungary, 5Institute for Health Insurance, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary, 6National Ambulance Service, Székesfehérvár, Hungary, 7University of Győr, Győr, Hungary.
OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus epidemic in 2019 put ambulance officers’ health at risk in all areas. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance of f icers after the pandemic.
METHODS: After obtaining the necessary permits, we conducted our cross-sectional, quantitative survey on line among the employees of the National Ambulance Service between February and May 2023, using a non-random convenience sample. In addition to John Brier’s Trauma Symptom Checklist-33 our questionnaire included ques tions about sociodemographic data, work and the coronavirus epidemic. The survey included those who reached the age of 18, had at least 1 year of employment as paramedic or medic, and were active during the pandemic. Data analysis was done with SPSS 26.0 program, using descriptive (average, frequency, confidence range) and mathemat ical-statistical procedures (chi2-test, T-test, ANOVA, correlation). The results were considered significant at p<0.05.
RESULTS: On a 5-point Likert scale (where 1 is the least, 5 is the most), the quarantine affected them at an average value of 2.21 ± 1.32, and they feared for their family’s safety from the coronavirus at a value of 3.49 ± 1.29. The average score measured on the post-traumatic stress disorder test (between 0-99 points) was 26.52 ± 19.36, 25.7% of the respondents scored above 40 points, who were the most at risk of the disease. The disease affected more women (p = 0.028), more people living in social relationships (p = 0.013), those who were more affected emotionally by the quarantine (p
CONCLUSIONS: Special attention should continue to be paid to the mental health care of paramedics, especially in the identified risk groups.
METHODS: After obtaining the necessary permits, we conducted our cross-sectional, quantitative survey on line among the employees of the National Ambulance Service between February and May 2023, using a non-random convenience sample. In addition to John Brier’s Trauma Symptom Checklist-33 our questionnaire included ques tions about sociodemographic data, work and the coronavirus epidemic. The survey included those who reached the age of 18, had at least 1 year of employment as paramedic or medic, and were active during the pandemic. Data analysis was done with SPSS 26.0 program, using descriptive (average, frequency, confidence range) and mathemat ical-statistical procedures (chi2-test, T-test, ANOVA, correlation). The results were considered significant at p<0.05.
RESULTS: On a 5-point Likert scale (where 1 is the least, 5 is the most), the quarantine affected them at an average value of 2.21 ± 1.32, and they feared for their family’s safety from the coronavirus at a value of 3.49 ± 1.29. The average score measured on the post-traumatic stress disorder test (between 0-99 points) was 26.52 ± 19.36, 25.7% of the respondents scored above 40 points, who were the most at risk of the disease. The disease affected more women (p = 0.028), more people living in social relationships (p = 0.013), those who were more affected emotionally by the quarantine (p
CONCLUSIONS: Special attention should continue to be paid to the mental health care of paramedics, especially in the identified risk groups.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH193
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Mental Health (including addition)