No One Stands Alone

Can instrumental and social support in the workplace prevent PTSD and sickness absence among ambulance personnel?

Background
Repeated exposure to critical incidents increases risk of PTSD. In average, ambulance personnel are exposed to critical events 2-4 times each year and are thus a high risk occupation in regards to mental development of PTSD. This constitutes a considerable challenge when ambulance organizations try to prevent mental health problems as a result of the operative work.

Purpose
The aim of the study is:
- To investigate what concrete support initiative or patterns of use of concrete support initiatives prevents development of PTSD and sickness absence in ambulance personnel.
- To develop recommendations in regards to prevention of mental health probplems due to the operative work in ambulance organizations.

Design
The study is conducted as a three-year prospective cohort study from August 2022 to August 2025.. The study is based on combined data data collected from survey questionnaires, company data on registered absence, frequency of operative work on each shift, as well as clinical examinations. The data is collected on all ambulance workers in a large ambulance organization “Ambulance Syd”. Based on study results, recommendations will be developed in cooperation with the members from Ambulance Syd, members from all Regional ambulance services in Denmark, representatives from the Danish Working Environment Authority, representatives from the Ambulance workers primary Union – FOA, representatives from the Industries's association of work environment (BFA) as well as the research team.

Institution of primary responsibility
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital.

Contact person from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Jesper Pihl-Thingvad.

Collaborations
Ambulance Syd; The National Center of Psychotraumatology, dep.of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark; dep. of Occupational Medicine, Herning Regional Hospital; The regional ambulance services in Region Zealand, Region Central Denmark and Region North Denmark; the Danish Working Environment Authority; FOA trade union; the Industries's association of work environment (BFA); and Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital.