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Workforce & occupational health

The effects of the paramedics' field work on their mental status in Jeddah.

Maher Alsulami, Ziyad F Al Nufaiei, Hanan Saleh Alruwaili, Yasir Almukhlifi, Abdulaziz Abdullah Allaf, Abdullah Alruwaili, Uzaud Ayidh Algrene, Huda S Alruwaili, Osama Saad Alqahtani, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Alhassan, Ahmed Ramdan M Alanazy, Adnan Alsulami

Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care · 2024-11-01 · Observational study

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Paramedics are continuously exposed to stressful events, making them liable to mental disorders. This study assesses the health of paramedics in Jeddah, focusing on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included fieldwork paramedics in Jeddah through an online survey distributed on social media. With a response rate of 86.09%, 192 complete responses were analyzed. Outcomes included mental health, mood and somatic effect, self-esteem, and sleep. RESULTS: Most participants were males (83.85%), married (50%), non-heavy smokers (51.04%), and non-alcohol drinkers (51.04%). A significant number reported health-related work or daily life difficulties, with 62.5%-67.18% attributing these to physical and emotional issues, respectively. Over half rated their mental health as poor or somewhat poor, impacting their relationships significantly. Additionally, 70.31% frequently felt anger, and many faced limitations in physical activities. About 14.58% had a prior mental illness diagnosis, with nearly a quarter on medication, and 61.98% had recently sought psychiatric help. Sleep deprivation affected 61.98%, with 38.53% reporting poor sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the negative impact on paramedics' mental health, showing a substantial diagnosis rate of mental disorders, activity limitations, negative mood, and relationship issues. Despite significant sleep problems, a positive aspect is their proactive psychiatric help-seeking behavior.

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Clinician perspective · Paramedics & EMTs

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