Post-traumatic stress disorder among paramedic and hospital emergency personnel in south-east Iran

doi:10.5847/wjem.j.issn.1920-8642.2013.01.005

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Paramedic and emergency personnel may encounter directly many events that threat their own wellbeing during their daily work. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among two groups of paramedic and emergency personnel in south-east Iran.
METHODS: The study employed a descriptive design and was conducted in four hospital emergency wards and a pre-hospital emergency base supervised by Kerman Medical University. Using Mississippi PTSD, we assessed the prevalence rate in paramedics (n=150) and emergency personnel (n=250).
RESULTS: The two groups had different levels of education, marital status, experience of traumatic events, work hours per month, and gender. Most (94%) of paramedic and hospital emergency personnel reported moderate PTSD. The two groups had significant different levels of PTSD in all subscale.
CONCLUSION: The study suggests that health care managers should organize systematic and dynamic policies and procedures in dealing with PTSD to assist both groups of personnel.

Key words: Post-traumatic stress disorder, Paramedic personnel, Emergency personnel

Sedigheh Iranmanesh, Batool Tirgari, Hojat Sheikh Bardsiri. Post-traumatic stress disorder among paramedic and hospital emergency personnel in south-east Iran[J]. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2013, 4(1): 26-31.

Figures/Tables 3

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Variables	Hospital emergency personnel (n,%)	Paramedic personnel (n,%)	Chi- square test	P
Gender
Female	171 (68.4)	0 (0)
Male	79 (31.6)	150 (100)	12.17	0.001
Total	250 (100)	150 (100)
Level of education
Diploma	96 (38.4)	28 (18.7)
Technician	22 (8.8)	31 (20.7)	24.33	0.001
Bachelor	115 (46)	84 (56)
Post graduate	17 (6.8)	7 (4.7)
Total	250 (100)	150 (100)
Marital status
Never married	193 (77.2)	58 (38.7)
Married	57 (22.8)	92 (61.3)	1.79	0.001
Total	250 (100)	250 (100)
Working hours per month
<100	19 (7.6)	10 (6.7)
100-150	89 (35.6)	30 (20)	41.94	0.001
150-200	112 (44.8)	51 (34)
>200	30 (12)	59 (39.3)
Total	250 (100)	150 (100)
Direct contact with patients
Yes	221 (88.4)	122 (81.3)
No	29 (11.6)	28 (18.7)	3.83	0.36
Total	250 (100)	150 (100)
Experience in dealing with traumatic events
Small	29 (11.6)	12 (8)
Moderate	85 (34)	23 (15.3)
High	77 (30.8)	53 (35.3)	23.62	0.001
Very high	59 (23.6)	62 (41.3)
Total	250 (100)	150 (100)
Interest to work
Very small	10 (4)	7 (4.7)
Small	34 (13.6)	18 (12)
Moderate	125 (50)	65 (43.3)	2.69	0.44
High	81 (32.4)	60 (40)
Total	250 (100)	150 (100)

Scale	Subscales	Paramedic personnel	Hospital emergency personnel	t test	P
M-PTSD	Frequently haunted by memoirs	20.66±6.06	23.35±6.53	4.17	0.001
	Problems in personal relationship	23.10±3.81	24.29±4.47	2.82	0.005
	Problems in controlling emotional feelings	24.23±4.45	25.72±4.72	3.16	0.002
	Lack of depression	21.30±4.85	23.66±5.79	4.18	0.001
	Total score	89.30±15.45	97.40±17.97	4.38	0.001

Groups	Level of education ANOVA /Pvalue	Job ANOVA test/Pvalue	Working hours per month ANOVA /P value	Direct contact with patients t test/P value	Interest to work t test/Pvalue
Paramedic	F=3.06	F=2.47	F=7.20	t=2.63	t=-3.78
Personnel	P=0.01^*	P=0.04^*	P=0.001^*	P=0.009^*	P=0.01^*
Hospital emergency	F=1.63	F=3.13^*	F=0.52	t=0.03	t=0.44
Personnel	P=0.15	P=0.01	P=0.66	P=0.97	P=0.72

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