Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges for healthcare workers (HCWs), leading to heightened stress, burnout, and concerns about their mental wellbeing. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of burnout, perceived stress, and associated factors among ambulance drivers, a critical group of HCWs, during the pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among ambulance drivers in six districts of Chhattisgarh, India. Participants were assessed using questionnaires on personal, work-related, and pandemic-related burnout, perceived stress, and resilience. Bivariate analysis was performed to examine the association between various background characteristics and perceived stress levels. RESULTS: The study included 119 ambulance drivers, with the majority from Rajnandgaon (29.4%) and Ambikapur (28.6%) districts. Significant variations in perceived stress levels were observed across different districts, with Raipur and Rajnandgaon exhibiting higher proportions of moderate stress. Factors associated with higher perceived stress included longer work hours, changes in work schedules, redeployment to pandemic response, and direct involvement in caring for COVID-19 patients. HCWs facing stressful situations at home, discrimination, distrust, violence, or moral/ethical compromises at work also demonstrated higher stress levels. Adequate access to personal protective equipment was associated with lower perceived stress. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the complex interplay of personal, work-related, and COVID-19-specific factors influencing the perceived stress levels among ambulance drivers. Targeted interventions addressing workload, work-life balance, access to resources, and workplace challenges are crucial to support the mental health and wellbeing of this essential healthcare workforce during the pandemic.