جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « emergency medical technicians » در نشریات گروه « پزشکی »

 Trust between patients and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) is crucial for effective pre-hospital nursing care.

 This study aimed to assess the trust levels of patients in emergency medical technicians, associated factors, and resulting outcomes.

 This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 patients transported by EMTs to the emergency departments of teaching hospitals in Zanjan City during 2023-2024. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaires, the Patient Trust Questionnaire (PTQ), a Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS-P), and a Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 software. Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, and simple linear regression statistical tests were conducted, with a significance level of less than 0.05.

 Patients had a mean (SD) trust level of 4.11 (0.92) in EMTs. Patients’ trust could be predicted by factors such as the speed of EMTs’ performance, reason for calling EMS, place of residence, and education (R=0.42, Adjusted R Square=0.17). The trust variable predicted anxiety, in patients. (p<0.05).

 Trust in pre-hospital care helps manage patients’ mental conditions. EMTs play a crucial role in building patients’ trust during emergencies.

 Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant public health issue. Developed countries have observed an increasing number of OHCAs in the elderly population. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are facing a growing number of OHCA cases in elderly patients, requiring special attention and consideration. As of 2020, the latest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines prioritize chest compressions as the initial course of action in OHCA situations.

 A year-long statistical analysis (2020-2021) of elderly individuals in the pre-hospital system of Hamadan province examined 10 cases of OHCA in the elderly in 2020-21 that occurred after consuming food (postprandial myocardial infarction).

 Ten of 90 cardiac arrest cases attended by EMTs occurred in elderly individuals after eating, and despite resuscitation efforts by the EMTs, none of these cases were successful. Consequently, this complication significantly reduces the chances of successful resuscitation in these patients. Therefore, addressing the issue of aspiration in elderly individuals during resuscitation is crucial.

 Continued research, collaboration, and adaptation of resuscitation protocols will contribute to advancements in the field and enhance the life-saving potential of elderly individuals who experience cardiac arrest.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused depression by creating constant occupational stress. Depression can be one of the most important complications after corona.

The present study was performed with aim to investigate the relationship between occupational stress and depression in emergency medical technicians (EMTs) when facing the patients with suspected COVID-19 after corona peak.

This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with the participation of 205 EMTs at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran, 2022. Sampling was done using convenience methods. Data collection tools included a demographic information form, Goldberg depression scale, and House and Rizzo's Work Stress Scale.

The mean of occupational stress and depression were 45.80±6.480 (Range 15-75) and 34.92±19.21 (Range 0-90), respectively. Occupational stress has a positive and significant relationship with depression (r=0.189, p=0.009). Also, Logistic regression showed the level of education (OR=0.577, p=0.029) and employment status (OR=0.647, p=0.050) were identified as protective of occupational stress and the number of children (OR=0.433, p=0.021) identified as a protective factor of depression in EMTs when facing patients with suspected COVID-19.

Implications for Practice: 

This study showed that occupational stress is related to increased depression in EMTs. In addition, some demographic factors protect these disorders. Therefore, it is suggested to pay more attention to psychological symptoms and influencing factors in EMTs post-COVID-19 era. Also, psychological recovery skills should be improved in continuing professional development policy.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) face many challenges and problems as the front line of dealing with epidemics including COVID-19. Therefore, the present study was aimed at exploring the challenges of EMTs in providing pre-hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative research was conventional content analysis conducted between November and December 2021. The participants were 15 emergency medical technicians working in the emergency center 115 in Shahroud selected by purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews at the location of the participants. Then, the codes, subcategories and categories were extracted by inductive process.  Challenges among EMTs in providing pre-hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic were categorized under four themes including (1) work factors (high work pressure, non-cooperation of patients, difficulty working with protective equipment) (2) unprepared organization (lack of coordination between medical centers, (3) threatened health (psychological disorders, physical problems) and (4) restless social (challenges with family members, social isolation). Health care managers, authorities and policy makers should use effective strategies to prevent and reduce the challenges of EMS workers in order to minimize their negative effects on EMTs and improve the quality of services provided.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), as the front line of dealing with patients with COVID-19, are exposed to the intensification of stress caused by these conditions, and it is essential to identify related factors, such as resilience and spiritual intelligence in this context. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between perceived stress, spiritual intelligence, and resilience of EMTs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 108 EMTs in Shahroud in 2021. Data collection tools included the demographic checklist, Cohen’s perceived stress questionnaire, King’s spiritual intelligence questionnaire, and Conrad Davidson’s questionnaire (CD-RISC). To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential (independent t-test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression) statistics were used.
The mean scores of perceived stress and resilience of employees were at medium and high levels, respectively. There was no significant relationship between perceived stress and spiritual intelligence (r=-0.49, P=0.24), but there was a meaningful negative correlation between perceived stress and resilience (r=-0.31, P=0.002). A positive and significant relationship was observed between perceived stress score and age and work experience.
Considering the significant relationship between perceived stress and resilience in the present study, it is suggested that the administrators provide solutions such as creating training courses to manage stress and increase resilience in EMTs.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are healthcare professionals caring for COVID-19 patients. The prolonged pandemic may lead to fatigue and threaten caregivers’ mental health. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the level of stress, depression, and anxiety among EMTs in Zanjan during the third year of the COVID-19 outbreak.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 194 EMTs from Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between June 2021 and September 2021. participants were selected using random cluster sampling. Data collection involved using a demographic questionnaire and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.

All participants in the study were male, with a mean age of 33.46 ± 7.25. The mean and standard deviation of depression, anxiety, and stress were 3.12 ± 3.03, 2.24 ± 2.38, and 4.16 ± 3.27, respectively. A significant association was found between the mean score of anxiety and the number of missions and between the mean score of stress and the number of tasks, age, and work experience (P < 0.05).

The level of depression, anxiety, and stress among EMTs was within the normal range. The prolonged pandemic may have helped EMTs adapt to this critical situation. However, it is essential to note that this study was conducted on a limited group of EMTs, and socio-cultural contexts influence psychological characteristics. Therefore, further research in this field is necessary in the future. 

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) as a result of seeing painful events involving suspected COVID-19 patients and being concerned aboutpotentially infecting themselves and their families. Therefore, screening for these disorders is essential in thepost-Corona era. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PTSD among EMTs and its relationship withoccupational stress and depression when dealing with patients with suspected COVID-19. This cross-sectional study was conducted on EMTs at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences usinga convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, PTSDchecklist, occupational stress questionnaire, and the Goldberg depression scale. The data were analyzed using SPSSsoftware. Statistical tests such as Pearson correlation and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. 205 EMTs participated in this cross-sectional study. The mean and standard deviation of PTSD was37.13±12.93 (17-85), and according to the cut-off (45), the prevalence of PTSD was 30.7%. There was a direct andsignificant association between the total PTSD and depression scores (r=0.435, p=0.001). Some occupational stressdomains, such as demand (r=0.306, p=0.001), colleague support (r=0.149, p=0.033), and communication (r=0.293,p=0.001) had a significant association with PTSD. The domains of sadness in depression (OR=1.074, p=0.027)and demands in occupational stress (OR=1.872, p=0.029) were the most important predictors of PTSD. Amongdemographic variables, employment status was the most important protective factor for PTSD (OR=0.378, p=0.038). PTSD affected one-third of EMTs, and it had a significant relationship with various dimensionsof depression and occupational stress. Due to the chronic nature of these diseases, policymakers are advised toprioritize psychological screening of EMTs as part of the post-Corona policy.

According to the literature, pre-hospital emergency medicine clinicians’ mental health has most likely been ignored during the COVID-19 outbreak.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between mental health and corona anxiety among pre-hospital emergency medicine clinicians during the COVID-19 outbreak in Isfahan, Iran.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Isfahan, Iran, from May to July 2020. All participants voluntarily participated in this study, and an informed consent was obtained. Data collection was done through completing two questionnaires, including the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data were analyzed with SPSS version 18 using the Pearson correlation test and multivariate linear regression.

A preliminary data analysis of CDAS and GHQ showed a significant correlation between the total score of COVID-19 anxiety and general health (r = 0.6, P < 0.001). Also, multivariate analysis showed that field of study (B = 0.13; P-value = 0.005) and COVID-19 anxiety were significant predictors for general health (B = 0.6; P-value < 0.001).

According to the findings, the higher the anxiety score, the poorer one’s general health and the more likely they are to have mental disorders. Therefore, it is recommended to provide mental health services for pre-hospital emergency medicine clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) at the forefront of the health system face Covid-19 cases. In such situation, they may have doubts about their abilities or priorities and may not make the right decisions. They need moral courage to survive this global crisis's stress and strengthen their decision-making power. The present study aimed to investigate the moral courage and its related factors in EMTs during the Covid-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was performed in 2021 on 194 EMTs of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was done by the cluster random method. A demographic information questionnaire and standard moral courage questionnaire were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and Logistic regression. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean total score of moral courage was high in 88.1% of EMTs (433.31± 49.70 out of 510). The mean score of moral courage in the dimensions of moral self-actualization was 228.98±32.46, risk-taking was 159.04±15.68, and the ability to defend the right was 45.28±7.70. There was statistically significant relationship between the mean score of total moral courage and marital status, age, work experience, and number of working hours (p <0.05).Implications for Practice: The findings of this study showed that EMTs had a high level of moral courage, so it is possible to maintain this important ethical virtue through reinforcements, planning, effective training, and organizational support, and consequently increase the quality of pre-hospital care.

This study was implemented to assess various types of violent incidents involving emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working in Tehran, Iran. Furthermore, the characteristics of violent people and possible causes of their violence were assessed. 

In this cross-sectional study, 500 EMTs working in the capital city of Tehran were randomly invited. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire of workplace violence. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were also performed for identifying the possible risk factors of violence. In addition, the distribution and association of violence patterns were also analyzed considering demographic features and characteristics of violent people. 

In total, 320 EMTs with the mean age of 31.8 ± 6.7 years participated, 315 (98.4%) of whom were men. Overall, 279 (87.2%) out of the 320 participants experienced 654 episodes of violence, mostly bullying, in the last 4 months. The relationship between the level of education and experiencing violent incidents was statistically significant (p=0.035). Also, non-Persian EMTs had experienced significantly more violent behaviors than Persian EMTs [171 (91.0%) vs. 108 (81.8%); p=0.016]. Nonetheless, the prevalence of violent incidents was not significantly correlated with marital status, years of work experience, employment situation, and working hours. The odds of facing violent behavior among EMTs with associate degree was 2.9 times higher than those with technical diploma (p=0.048). Furthermore, the odds of experiencing violence among non-Persian EMTs was 2.2 times higher than Persian EMTs (p=0.039). 

We found that EMTs had faced numerous episodes of violence in their workplace, especially verbal threats, which were more prevalently committed by patients’ relatives during night shifts.

Among musculoskeletal disorders, low back pain causes the most common complaints among emergency medical services personnel worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain among emergency medical services personnel.

We used the PRISMA guideline in the present systematic review and meta-analysis. The search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, ProQuest, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Embase using English keywords and SID, Irandoc, and Magiran data resources with equivalent Persian keywords. Studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were gathered without a time limit until the end of June 2021. The quality evaluation of the selected studies was performed using the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) tool. The random-effects model was used for meta-analysis, applying the I2 index as a measure to estimate heterogeneity among studies.

In the present study, a total of 1038 articles were identified in the primary search, of which ten studies entered the final evaluation phase and meta-analysis after initial screening and removing duplicates. In these studies, 7499 emergency medical services personnel were examined; the prevalence of low back pain was 50.30% (95% CI: 37.98-62.62, I2= 99.1%).

Our results indicated a considerable prevalence of low back pain among emergency medical services personnel. Also, the heterogeneity between studies was very high. It is recommended to teach the correct methods of lifting the stretcher and equipment as well as redefining the duties of the staff with low back pain.

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are very likely to leave the profession due to their obligation to work in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the ethical work climate and the intention to leave the service among EMTs. In this descriptive correlational study, 315 EMTs working in Zanjan province were surveyed using the census method in 2021. The research tools included the Ethical Work Climate and the Intention to Leave the Service questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21. We found the mean (SD) score of the organization's ethical work climate to be 73.93 (±12.53), and the intention to leave the service 12.54 (±4.52), which are at a moderate level. A statistically significant positive correlation existed between these variables (r = 0.148, P = 0.017). Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between age and employment status among the demographic variables, and the ethical work climate and the intention to leave (P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that ethical work climate is one of the influential but less noticed factors that affect the performance of EMTs. Therefore, it is suggested that managers implement measures to develop a positive ethical work climate to reduce the tendency to leave the service among EMTs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected in countless ways conventional teaching methods and led to a sudden shift in teaching methods toward distance teaching.

Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of webinar training compared to conventional training on the risk perception of COVID-19 in emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

This quasi-experimental study selected 70 EMTs employed at the emergency medical services (EMS) affiliated to the Birjand University of Medical Sciences via convenience sampling. The participants were randomly designed into a webinar training group (n = 35) and a conventional training group (n = 35). The risk perception of COVID-19 was evaluated using a researcher-made questionnaire (40 questions) at baseline and immediately after teaching. The study data were analyzed using SPSS V.26, descriptive (frequency, mean, and standard deviation), and inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, and chi-square test).

All the 70 participants completed the questionnaire. The mean score of COVID-19 risk perception in both groups improved following teaching (P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups immediately after training (P = 0.76). Also, independent t-test and one-way ANOVA showed that the mean score of COVID-19 risk perception had no significant difference with the participants’ demographic data in the two groups (P > 0.05).

The webinar in the form of distance teaching can be as effective as conventional teaching in improving COVID-19 risk perception. Therefore, a webinar format can be used during pandemics of infectious diseases when conventional training is impossible.

Ongoing exposure to a variety of Pre-hospital Emergencies (PE) has placed Emergency Medi-cal Technicians (EMTs) at serious psychiatric compromise such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Thepresent study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of PTSD among EMTs.

Thisprospective cross-sectional study was conducted on EMTs in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in west ofIran. A baseline information questionnaire including personal work-related characteristics and the PTSD check-list of DSM-5 (PCL-5) were used for data collection. Non-parametric tests and multivariate linear regression wereused to evaluate the associated factors of PTSD in these participants.

Among the participants, 22% oftechnicians had PTSD-diagnostic criteria. The mean total PCL-5 score was 21.60 ± 11.45, while the scores were38.02 ± 6.08 and 17.47 ± 8.36 in the PTSD-diagnosed and undiagnosed groups, respectively. The most commonsymptom of the clusters was negative alterations in cognition with a mean score of 7.42 ± 4.63. After adjustingconfounders, the number of missions (t= 2.50, P= 0.013), work experience (t= -3.24, P= 0.001) and number ofshifts (t: 26.38, P < 0.001) were significantly corelated with PCL-5 score.

The results indicated thatthe prevalence of PTSD among EMTs personnel of hamadan province is high. EMTs with the age of≤30 years,work experience of≤10 years, married status, informal employment, emergency medical technician’s degree,and more than 8 shifts per month, as well as no previous training history had a higher total PCL-5 score.