The COVID-19 pandemic as a stress factor in the work of a paramedic

Abstract

Background: A paramedic is a person providing health services in a state of sudden threat to life or health. This profession is one of the most difficult and responsible, and the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 has made working in the healthcare system an incredible challenge. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the psychological condition of para-medics. Material and Methods: The research material was a database developed from a questionnaire administered to 300 active paramedics. Respondents answered questions about their subjective feelings and questions related to their experiences as paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: More than half of the respondents were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 and the majority contracted it at work. The survey showed that 11% of the respondents felt very high stress, 38.4% high and 32% moderate. Research has shown that very high, high and moderate levels of stress were experienced more often by paramedics in the 31–40 age group, and little or no stress in the 20–30 age group and paramedics with the longest professional experience less frequently declared experienc-ing stress at a very high or high level and less frequently experienced burnout in relation to paramedics working in the profession of 1–5 or 6–10 years. Conclusions: The results of a study showed that performing professional duties during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may have influenced paramedics’ perceptions of their psychological condition, including subjective feelings of stress levels, social exclusion, or burnout.