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World Journal of Emergency Medicine ›› 2017, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (3): 214-222.doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2017.03.009

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Association of post-traumatic stress disorder and work performance: A survey from an emergency medical service, Karachi, Pakistan

Salima Kerai1(), Omrana Pasha2, Uzma Khan1, Muhammad Islam2, Nargis Asad3, Junaid Razzak4   

  1. 1 Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences Department, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
    2 Community Health Sciences Department, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
    3 Psychiatry Department, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
    4 Emergency Medicine Department, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  • Received:2016-10-28 Accepted:2017-04-15 Online:2017-09-15 Published:2017-09-15
  • Contact: Salima Kerai E-mail:salima.kerai@aku.edu

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to explore the association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and work performance of emergency medical services personnel in Karachi, Pakistan.

METHODS: Emergency medical service personnel were screened for potential PTSD using Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Work performance was assessed on the basis of five variables: number of late arrivals to work, number of days absent, number of days sick, adherence to protocol, and patient satisfaction over a period of 3 months. In order to model outcomes like the number of late arrivals to work, days absent and days late, negative binomial regression was applied, whereas logistic regression was applied for adherence to protocol and linear for patient satisfaction scores.

RESULTS: Mean scores of PTSD were 24.0±12.2. No association was found between PTSD and work performance measures: number of late arrivals to work (RRadj 0.99; 0.98-1.00), days absent (RRadj 0.98; 0.96-0.99), days sick (RRadj 0.99; 0.98-1.00), adherence to protocol (ORadj 1.01; 0.99-1.04) and patient satisfaction (β 0.001%-0.03%) after adjusting for years of formal schooling, living status, coping mechanism, social support, working hours, years of experience and anxiety or depression.

CONCLUSION: No statistically significant association was found between PTSD and work performance amongst EMS personnel in Karachi, Pakistan.

Key words: Emergency medical service, Karachi, Pakistan, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Stress, Work performance