Department of Emergency Medicine and Prehospital Services, St. Olav's Hospital, Prinsesse Kristinas gate 3, AHL, 7030, Trondheim, Norway.
Joint Medical Services, Norwegian Armed Forces, Sessvollmoen, Norway.
Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2022 Jan 11;30(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s13049-021-00991-2.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to be elevated among first responders (Emergency Medical Services, fire service, police force) compared to the general population. Examining the prevalence of mental health issues in a work force with an elevated occupational risk is fundamental towards ensuring their wellbeing and implementing safeguard measures. The goal of this study is therefore to report the prevalence of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic development, and PTSD in Norwegian ambulance personnel.
This study is a cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based survey (Questback®), performed among operative personnel employed in the Emergency Medical Services in the Regional Health Trust of Central Norway between 18. February and 9. April 2021. The study was sent to 1052 eligible participants. Questions reported demographic data, a traumatic events exposure index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Depression), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, Posttraumatic symptom scale (PTSD) and Posttraumatic change scale.
The response rate in this study was 45.5% (n = 479/1052). The mean age of respondents was 37.1 years (std. 11.1) and 52.8% (n = 253) were male. Of the respondents, 80.6% (n = 386) were married or had a partner, and 91.6% (n = 439) reported having access to a peer support programme, with 34.9% (n = 167) reporting that they had utilized peer support. In this study, 5% (n = 24) showed a prevalence of manifest posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, while 8.6% (n = 41) reported moderate to severe depression and 2.9% (n = 14) presented moderate to severe symptoms of general anxiety. Of the respondents, 77.2% (n = 370) reported personal growth because of their work experiences.
This study indicates that Norwegian ambulance personnel report a prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression, which is slightly higher for men, and lower for the female proportion in this study, when compared to an adult Norwegian population. The vast majority of respondents reported personal growth because of their work experience, and both the degree of peer support and having a partner seem to influence levels of posttraumatic stress and -development.
与普通人群相比，创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）在急救人员（紧急医疗服务、消防、警察部队）中更为常见。检查高职业风险工作人群中心理健康问题的患病率，对于确保他们的健康和实施保障措施至关重要。因此，本研究的目的是报告挪威救护人员中抑郁、焦虑、创伤后发展和 PTSD 的患病率。
本研究是一项横断面、匿名、基于网络的调查（Questback®），在 2021 年 2 月 18 日至 4 月 9 日期间，在中央挪威地区卫生信托的紧急医疗服务机构中从事作业的人员中进行。该研究向 1052 名符合条件的参与者发送了调查问卷。问卷报告了人口统计学数据、创伤事件暴露指数、患者健康问卷-9（抑郁）、广泛性焦虑症-7 量表、创伤后症状量表（PTSD）和创伤后变化量表。
本研究的回复率为 45.5%（n=479/1052）。受访者的平均年龄为 37.1 岁（标准差 11.1），52.8%（n=253）为男性。在受访者中，80.6%（n=386）已婚或有伴侣，91.6%（n=439）报告有同伴支持计划，34.9%（n=167）报告他们曾使用过同伴支持。在这项研究中，5%（n=24）表现出明显的创伤后应激障碍症状，8.6%（n=41）报告中度至重度抑郁，2.9%（n=14）表现出中度至重度广泛性焦虑症状。在受访者中，77.2%（n=370）报告因工作经历而获得个人成长。
本研究表明，与成年挪威人群相比，挪威救护人员报告创伤后应激症状和抑郁的患病率略高，男性患病率略高，女性比例略低。绝大多数受访者报告因工作经历而获得个人成长，同伴支持的程度和伴侣的存在似乎都影响着创伤后应激和发展的程度。
