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Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province
Objective: To determine the factors associated with an increased risk for PTSD in ambulance personnel and the barriers faced in accessing support for work related stress (WRS). Methods: A cross-sectional study of voluntary participants comprising 388 ambulance personnel was conducted. Participants c...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Public Health and Family Medicine
2022
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| _version_ | 1867613218588852224 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ntatamala, Itumeleng Mmoko Theophelus |
| author2 | Adams, Shahieda |
| author_browse | Adams, Shahieda Ntatamala, Itumeleng Mmoko Theophelus |
| author_facet | Adams, Shahieda Ntatamala, Itumeleng Mmoko Theophelus |
| author_sort | Ntatamala, Itumeleng Mmoko Theophelus |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Objective: To determine the factors associated with an increased risk for PTSD in ambulance personnel and the barriers faced in accessing support for work related stress (WRS). Methods: A cross-sectional study of voluntary participants comprising 388 ambulance personnel was conducted. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires: Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), EMS Critical Incident Inventory (CII), EMS Chronic Stress Questionnaire (EMSCSQ), SF-36 Quality of Life questionnaire (SF-36) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) which were used to assess PTSD and level of occupational stressors. Results: The prevalence of PTSD in the study population was 30%. Participants were predominantly female (55%), median age 38 (IQR; 31 - 44) years with a professional qualification (83%). Those with PTSD were more likely current smokers (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.05 - 2.95), current illicit drug users (OR=16.4, 95% CI: 1.87 - 143.86) and problem drinkers (OR=3.86, 95% CI: 1.80 - 8.23). A self-reported mental health condition (OR=3.76, 1.96 - 7.21), being treated for a medical condition (OR=1.95, 1.22 - 3.11), exposure to chronic WRS (OR=1.05, 1.04 - 1.07) and high critical incident stress score (OR=1.03, 1.02 - 1.04) were positively associated with PTSD risk. Barriers to seeking help for WRS included concerns that services were not confidential, and that the participant's career would be negatively affected. Conclusion: The PTSD prevalence in ambulance personnel is considerably higher than that found in previous studies conducted among this occupational group in the Western Cape. Identified risk factors should inform interventions designed to support ambulance personnel and a greater focus on addressing barriers to accessing care is needed. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/35524 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:39.476Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | Department of Public Health and Family Medicine |
| publisherStr | Department of Public Health and Family Medicine |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/35524 Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province Ntatamala, Itumeleng Mmoko Theophelus Adams, Shahieda occupational paramedic ambulance personnel PTSD predictors barriers Objective: To determine the factors associated with an increased risk for PTSD in ambulance personnel and the barriers faced in accessing support for work related stress (WRS). Methods: A cross-sectional study of voluntary participants comprising 388 ambulance personnel was conducted. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires: Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), EMS Critical Incident Inventory (CII), EMS Chronic Stress Questionnaire (EMSCSQ), SF-36 Quality of Life questionnaire (SF-36) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) which were used to assess PTSD and level of occupational stressors. Results: The prevalence of PTSD in the study population was 30%. Participants were predominantly female (55%), median age 38 (IQR; 31 - 44) years with a professional qualification (83%). Those with PTSD were more likely current smokers (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.05 - 2.95), current illicit drug users (OR=16.4, 95% CI: 1.87 - 143.86) and problem drinkers (OR=3.86, 95% CI: 1.80 - 8.23). A self-reported mental health condition (OR=3.76, 1.96 - 7.21), being treated for a medical condition (OR=1.95, 1.22 - 3.11), exposure to chronic WRS (OR=1.05, 1.04 - 1.07) and high critical incident stress score (OR=1.03, 1.02 - 1.04) were positively associated with PTSD risk. Barriers to seeking help for WRS included concerns that services were not confidential, and that the participant's career would be negatively affected. Conclusion: The PTSD prevalence in ambulance personnel is considerably higher than that found in previous studies conducted among this occupational group in the Western Cape. Identified risk factors should inform interventions designed to support ambulance personnel and a greater focus on addressing barriers to accessing care is needed. 2022-01-20T07:31:05Z 2022-01-20T07:31:05Z 2021 2022-01-20T07:30:08Z Master Thesis Masters MMed http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35524 eng application/pdf Department of Public Health and Family Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences |
| spellingShingle | occupational paramedic ambulance personnel PTSD predictors barriers Ntatamala, Itumeleng Mmoko Theophelus Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province |
| title_full | Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province |
| title_fullStr | Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province |
| title_short | Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province |
| title_sort | predictors of post traumatic stress disorder among ambulance personnel in the western cape province |
| topic | occupational paramedic ambulance personnel PTSD predictors barriers |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/35524 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ntatamalaitumelengmmokotheophelus predictorsofposttraumaticstressdisorderamongambulancepersonnelinthewesterncapeprovince |