TY - JOUR
T1 - How do paramedics cope?
T2 - A scoping review
AU - Warren-James, Matthew
AU - Dodd, Natalie
AU - Perera, Chantal
AU - Clegg, Lisa
AU - Stallman, H
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia
PY - 2022/9
Y1 - 2022/9
N2 - Exposure to repeated trauma is an inherent component of paramedicine. Additionally, paramedics are exposed to threats that can undermine healthy workplaces, social connectedness, and health behaviour, predisposing them to overwhelming distress and unhealthy coping, including suicidality and psychiatric disorders. This scoping review aimed to identify how paramedics cope. PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched between January 1, 2010, to April 21, 2021. Studies were included if they used any research design to identify specific coping strategies used by paramedics. Three studies met the inclusion criteria—two qualitative and one cross-sectional survey design. There was a high risk of bias across all studies. Studies were conducted in Israel, Poland, and the UK, primarily with males. Two studies only identified healthy coping strategies—self-soothing and social and professional support. Unhealthy strategies identified in the third study were limited to negative self-talk and alcohol use, with no mention of other harmful behaviours, social withdrawal, or suicidality. There is limited research describing how paramedics cope, and in particular, how female paramedics cope. Further research exploring the breadth of coping strategies used by paramedics is needed to understand the impact of the work paramedics undertake on coping and inform prevention and support activities.
AB - Exposure to repeated trauma is an inherent component of paramedicine. Additionally, paramedics are exposed to threats that can undermine healthy workplaces, social connectedness, and health behaviour, predisposing them to overwhelming distress and unhealthy coping, including suicidality and psychiatric disorders. This scoping review aimed to identify how paramedics cope. PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched between January 1, 2010, to April 21, 2021. Studies were included if they used any research design to identify specific coping strategies used by paramedics. Three studies met the inclusion criteria—two qualitative and one cross-sectional survey design. There was a high risk of bias across all studies. Studies were conducted in Israel, Poland, and the UK, primarily with males. Two studies only identified healthy coping strategies—self-soothing and social and professional support. Unhealthy strategies identified in the third study were limited to negative self-talk and alcohol use, with no mention of other harmful behaviours, social withdrawal, or suicidality. There is limited research describing how paramedics cope, and in particular, how female paramedics cope. Further research exploring the breadth of coping strategies used by paramedics is needed to understand the impact of the work paramedics undertake on coping and inform prevention and support activities.
KW - Ambulance
KW - First responders
KW - Mental health
KW - Stress
KW - Wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85122476534&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85122476534&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.auec.2021.12.003
DO - 10.1016/j.auec.2021.12.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 35000895
VL - 25
SP - 191
EP - 196
JO - Australasian Emergency Care
JF - Australasian Emergency Care
SN - 2588-994X
IS - 3
ER -