Abstract
BACKGROUND: The workloads of emergency medical service personnel (EMS) are varied. In the absence of recovery, health consequences can result. The aim of this review was to analyze the literature on the associations between psychosocial or physical work factors on one hand and the well-being outcomes and job satisfaction on the other hand. METHODS: A systematic literature review examining the workloads, behavior, and well-being of EMS including emergency physicians, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement for the reporting systematic reviews, was performed. The PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Psyndex, and Embase electronic databases were used. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were included. These were divided into studies that predominantly focused on the behavior (6), stress and strain (22), and well-being (5) of EMS. Only four studies also examined emergency physicians. The studies indicated a high prevalence of psychological and physical stress factors. Burnout and posttraumatic stress disorders have been the most studied consequences of mismatched stress. The health status variable performs better in conjunction with higher qualifications. Age is not a protective variable in some studies. CONCLUSIONS: EMS workloads are varied and must be assessed on an individual basis. Studies on emergency physicians are needed. Organizational and personal measures must become the focus of health promotion and prevention in the workplace.