Relationship between job stress and work-related quality of life among emergency medical technicians: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open. 2023 Jun 6;13(6):e066744. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066744.

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed to determine the relationship between job stress and work-related quality of life (WRQoL) among emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Lorestan province, Western Iran.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study.

Methods: Totally 430 EMTs who had been engaged in their respective units for more than 6 months from all emergency facilities in Lorestan province were selected using single stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected from April to July 2019 using two standard questionnaires: job stress (Health and Safety Executive (HSE)) and WRQoL. The OR with 95% CI was used to declare the statistical association (p≤0.05).

Results: All participants were exclusively males, with a mean age of 32±6.87 years. The overall average score of job stress using the HSE scale was 2.69±0.43; while the overall quality of working life score was 2.48±1.01. The type of working shift was found to have a significant impact on the HSE-average score (F(3,417)=5.26, p=0.01); and on the WRQoL-average score (F(3,417)=6.89, p<0.01).

Conclusion: Two-thirds of EMTs working in governmental hospitals had job stress and a low quality of work-related life. Additionally, work shift was statistically significant associated with EMTs' job stress and WRQoL.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Health & safety; PUBLIC HEALTH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Emergency Medical Technicians*
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Male
  • Occupational Stress* / epidemiology
  • Quality of Life
  • Surveys and Questionnaires