Emergency Medical Services Prehospital Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US: A Brief Literature Review

Ventura, Christian; Denton, Edward E; David, Jessica Anastacia; Schoenfelder, Brianna J; Mela, Lillian; Lumia, Rebecca P; Rudi, Rachel B; Haldar, Barnita

doi:10.2147/oaem.s366006

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…No mesmo período, o serviço de Recife apresentou um acréscimo de 4%. Sobre as orientações médicas prestadas em 2021, onde o atendimento é feito via telefone, não necessitando de ambulância, as capitais pernambucana e maceioense Research, Society and Development, v. 11, n. 16, e38111637623, Globalmente, foi observado que os volumes de chamadas para as 60% em comparação com 2019, em destaque para regiões altamente populosas (Amiry & Maguire, 2021;Ventura et al, 2022). Verifica-se também aumento nos tempos de resposta das ambulâncias, prolongamento do tempo de atendimento e atrasos hospitalares (Andrew et al, 2022).…”

Section: Resultsunclassified

Reflection of vaccination against COVID-19 in pre-hospital care in northeastern cities

Oliveira

Menezes

Vasconcelos

et al. 2022

RSD

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The Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU), a mobile pre-hospital component, aims to comfort the patient in urgent or emergency situations. In December 2019, researchers isolated a new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. In 2020, attention was focused on the development of stages of scientific studies with vaccine candidates against the virus. In January 2021, the emergency use of the vaccine was authorized in the country. Research indicates an encouraging immunizing potential, especially in the prevention of serious clinical conditions. The objective of the research was to establish the influence of vaccination against COVID-19 on the profile of pre-hospital SAMU care in cities in the Northeast. This is a cross-sectional observational analytical study. Samples from secondary data from SAMU daily occurrence reports in the years 2020 and 2021 were analyzed. Of the 819,635 calls analyzed, about half were registered in 2021 and the calls related to COVID-19 added up to 12.5% of the total number of victims met. For the years studied, the Maceió service recorded a reduction in the number of incoming calls, unlike Recife; both services had a reduction in the number of medical orientations. It is concluded that the pandemic changed the profile of services provided by SAMU and that vaccination, in Maceió, reduced the number of monthly calls, the number of calls and the number of calls with respiratory complaints. In this way, immunization appears as a pillar for the prevention of serious clinical conditions and less need for emergency services.

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Section: Resultsunclassified

Reflection of vaccination against COVID-19 in pre-hospital care in northeastern cities

Oliveira

Menezes

Vasconcelos

et al. 2022

RSD

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“…During those times, EMTs were busy worldwide assisting patients, comforting patients in difficult situations, and transporting them to hospitals, risking their own life and health to COVID-19 exposures. The unknown risks associated with COVID-19 during the onset of the disease lead to mental stress among EMTs, and the sudden rise of COVID-19 cases posed unique challenges that frontline workers had to deal with [ 35 , 36 ]. The high ERR and OC scores clearly indicated the crisis that EMS professionals faced as frontline workers during the onset of COVID-19 (February–March of 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosocial Work Stress and Occupational Stressors in Emergency Medical Services

Bardhan

Byrd

2023

Healthcare

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Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals often experience work stress, which escalated during COVID-19. High job demand in the EMS profession may lead to progressive decline in physical and mental health. We investigated the prevalence of psychosocial job stress in the three levels of EMS: basic, advanced, and paramedic, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. EMS professionals (n = 36) were recruited from EMS agencies following the Institutional Review Board approval. Participants took surveys on demographics, personal characteristics, chronic diseases, and work schedules. Job stress indicators, namely the effort–reward ratio (ERR) and overcommitment (OC), were evaluated from survey questionnaires using the effort–reward imbalance model. Associations of job stress indicators with age, sex, body mass index, and working conditions were measured by logistic regression. Psychosocial work stress was prevalent with effort reward ratio > 1 in 83% of participants and overcommitment scores > 13 in 89% of participants. Age, body mass index, and work hours showed strong associations with ERR and OC scores. The investigation findings suggested that a psychosocial work environment is prevalent among EMS, as revealed by high ERR, OC, and their correlation with sleep apnea in rotating shift employees. Appropriate interventions may be helpful in reducing psychosocial work stress in EMS professionals.

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“…This high prevalence should be considered a warning sign of possible negative psychosocial consequences from the acute phase of the pandemic, such as burnout or post-traumatic stress [ 15 , 43 ]. Although HCWs in the out-of-hospital setting are highly trained to respond to unpredictable and potentially traumatic situations, having become one of the first providers of health care to patients with suspected or confirmed signs of COVID-19 has been cited as one of the major causes of their increased psychological distress [ 13 , 44 ]. However, other authors argue that these HCWs have lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than those working in inpatient units [ 26 , 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Out-of-hospital HCWs have often had to face unfavourable situations and to adapt their work conditions to the epidemiological scenario existing at any given time, including long working hours without rest periods, lack of approved personal protective equipment, ethical dilemmas in decision making or the use of unclear and constantly changing protocols [ 10 , 11 ]. The continuation of this situation over time, together with the fear of contagion and the social discrimination they often suffered, have had a negative impact on their behaviour, mood, and mental health [ 12 , 13 ]. In this regard, the COVID-19 pandemic is considered an event that favours the occurrence of post-traumatic stress symptoms among HCWs [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Previous Mental State on Psychological Outcomes of Spanish Out-of-Hospital Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Molina-Oliva

Martín-Sánchez

Pastor-Benito

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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This study aimed to describe factors relating to the psychological distress of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Spanish out-of-hospital emergency medical services (EMS), according to the previous or non-use of psychotropic drugs or psychotherapy. A multicentre, cross-sectional descriptive study was designed. The study population were all physicians, nurses, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working in any Spanish out-of-hospital EMS between February and April 2021. The main outcomes were the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy, assessed by DASS-21 and G-SES. Differences in levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy, according to sex, age, previous use of psychotropic drug or psychotherapy, work experience, professional category, type of work, and modification of working conditions were measured using the Student’s t-test for independent samples, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, or 2-factor analysis of covariance. A total of 1636 HCWs were included, of whom one in three had severe mental disorders because of the pandemic. The interaction of the previous or non-use of psychotropic drugs or psychotherapy with the rest of the factors considered did not modify the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy. However, HCWs with a history of psychotropic drug or psychotherapy use had a more intense negative emotional response and lower self-efficacy, regardless of their sex, professional category, type of work, or change in the working conditions. These HCWs are considered particularly vulnerable to the development or recurrence of new disorders or other comorbidities; therefore, the implementation of monitoring and follow-up strategies should be a priority.

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Emergency Medical Services Prehospital Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US: A Brief Literature Review

Cited by 7 publications

References 102 publications

Reflection of vaccination against COVID-19 in pre-hospital care in northeastern cities

Reflection of vaccination against COVID-19 in pre-hospital care in northeastern cities

Psychosocial Work Stress and Occupational Stressors in Emergency Medical Services

Influence of Previous Mental State on Psychological Outcomes of Spanish Out-of-Hospital Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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