Traumatic Stress in Emergency Medical Technicians: Protective Role of Age and Education
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Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
TURKIYE SINIR VE RUH SAGLIGI DERNEGI
Access Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
Abstract
Objective: Some professions carry higher risk of being traumatised; health care workers, especially those working at emergency services, are at higher risk in this respect. This study aims to examine the psychological effects of different types of work-related traumatic events on emergency health care staff and possible protective effects of factors such as age, education and experience. Method: The targeted population was all emergency health care workers working at emergency wards and first-aid stations within the province of Nigde. Consenting subjects were given self-report questionnaires on traumatic stress and work-related traumatic events. 135 emergency workers (90 female, 45 male), with complete data sets were included in the study. Results: The subjects reported experiencing 6.8 types of different work-related traumas. Those who are older and with higher education reported higher numbers of event types. Traumatic stress levels were predicted by higher number of reported work-related trauma types. When analyzed separately within age and education groups, number of work-related traumatic events predicted traumatic stress among younger subjects and those with lower education; no such prediction was observed among older or more educated subjects. Conclusion: Findings suggest that lower education and younger age independently predict negative psychological effects of work-related traumatic events. These findings may lead to changes in how emergency health care is organized in Turkey.
Description
Keywords
Emergency medicine, education, PTSD
Journal or Series
TURK PSIKIYATRI DERGISI
WoS Q Value
Q4
Scopus Q Value
Q3
Volume
26
Issue
4
