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Fit for duty: shedding light on paramedics' health via research methodologies

02 June 2019
Opinion
02 June 2019
Volume 9 · Issue 2

An increase in capability and community expectation coupled with an increase in demand has placed both external and internal pressures on paramedics with discernible similarities between Australia and the UK (Armitage, 2010; Mahtani et al, 2018). Where paramedic performance is measured, paramedic wellbeing has been less considered (Gayton and Lovell, 2012). Ongoing caseloads, daily exposure to human suffering and continual shift extensions or missed meals can cause a physical and emotional toll (Armitage, 2010; Gayton and Lovell, 2012; Mahtani et al, 2018).

A recent review of paramedicine personnel determined that paramedic stress and burnout are among the highest within the emergency service network when compared with police and fire (Maguire et al, 2014; Varker et al, 2018). Further data conclude that ongoing exposure to traumatic events coupled with broken rest can lead to psychological impairment (Bradford, 2002; McFarlane, 2010).

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