Implementing a New Protocol to Reduce Paramedic Stress.
Abstract:
Working as a paramedic exposes individuals to the risk of witnessing life-threatening
circumstances and other traumatizing experiences. Such events may result in symptoms of stress
that affect the functioning of the paramedics. This is a well-known problem, but it is usually
underestimated. This research aims to identify stress factors among paramedics and implement a
new program to overcome stress and maximize the functioning of emergency management
services.
Literature Review:
Paramedics face unimaginable circumstances on a daily basis in most lines of their work.
Typically, their type of work involves dealing with individual that are going through critical
times and sometimes the most frightening experiences of their lives. Since they are a crucial part
of first responders, paramedics are forced to make decisions and actions that have the potential of
saving lives and minimizing injuries (Maguire & Smith, 2013). In so doing, they encounter the
pressure of making a quick and accurate assessment during emergencies. In addition, paramedics
are required to deal with the reality that patients will always die regardless of the actions they
take. (Maguire & Smith, 2013). These factors among others related to their work environment
can have inherent occupational stress, which can significantly influence their physical and
emotional health. Stress in this perspective refers to the response of the body to mental, physical,
or emotional situations, changes, and forces due to external factors such as work environment or
from internal factors such as attitudes (LeBlanc et al., 2012). In a pilot study examining the risk
factors for stress in paramedics, Rybojad et al., (2016) found that 40 percent of paramedics
showed signs of stress. The majority of these paramedics were working under an employer’s
contract as opposed to being self-employed with persons with higher levels of education
exhibiting stress less frequently. In another research Fjeldheim et al., (2014), found that 94
percent of paramedic trainees experience trauma and 16 percent meet symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research also found a high rate of depression (28%) with
23% of the paramedics engaging in alcohol abuse and 7 percent showing signs of chronic
perceived stress (Fjeldheim et al., 2014).Therefore, this research will assess the influence of
work environment on the stress factors, burnout among Saudi Arabian paramedics and
implement a new program to reduce stress.
Research questions Objectives:
1. What are the major stress factors affecting paramedics working in the Saudi Arabian Red
Crescent?
2. What is the effect of stress, and burnout on the paramedics decision making.
3. How does the Saudi Arabian Red Crescent help its paramedic deal with work stress?
4. Implement a new protocol to aid paramedics overcome work-related stress and measure
the outcome.
Methodology:
In this case, the study design will be conducted as qualitative descriptive research. The
research could be conducted in three different steps. Firstly, the paramedics stress factors will be
conducted by collecting and analyzing data relating to it. The data will be collected using a
survey. Secondly, all the data regards Red Crescent management dealing with their workers
stress will be conducted from supervisors and managers. Thirdly, the main part of this research is
to implement a new program that helps paramedics overcome their stress. Paramedics with stress
symptoms will be interviewed after going through the program to collect data. The data will be
analyzed for the final result.
Significance:
Identifying the major stress factors is the key toward reducing stress among paramedics. I
think, this research will help in improving the paramedics health both mentally which will help
eventually in providing high quality patients care. The new protocol will address their issues and
provide solutions based on the paramedic situation. For example, reducing work load for two
months, changing the shift, or visiting a psychologist, etc.. I think there will be a positive result
from using a new protocol that can be generalized and used by many EMS system.
References:
Fjeldheim, C., Nöthling, J., Pretorius, K., Basson, M., Ganasen, K., & Heneke, R. et al. (2014).
Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and the effect of explanatory variables in
paramedic trainees. BMC Emergency Medicine, 14(1), 11.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-227x-14-11
LeBlanc, V., Regehr, C., Tavares, W., Scott, A., MacDonald, R., & King, K. (2012). The Impact
of Stress on Paramedic Performance During Simulated Critical Events. Prehospital And
Disaster Medicine, 27(04), 369-374. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x12001021
Maguire, B., & Smith, S. (2013). Injuries and Fatalities among Emergency Medical Technicians
and Paramedics in the United States. Prehospital And Disaster Medicine, 28(04), 376382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x13003555
Rybojad, B., Aftyka, A., Baran, M., & Rzo?ca, P. (2016). Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder in Polish Paramedics: A Pilot Study. The Journal Of Emergency Medicine,
50(2), 270-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.06.030

Purchase answer to see full
attachment