PROFESSIONAL PROFILE AND PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STRESS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PERSONNEL

Abstract

Purpose: to assess the professional and psychological profile of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, determine the level of workload, psychological stress, and emotional exhaustion, and identify key factors influencing job satisfaction and the risks of professional burnout. Materials and Methods. The study involved physicians and paramedics from one of the regional branches of the emergency medical services in the Western region of Ukraine. The primary data collection tool was an anony- mous questionnaire assessing professional profiles, working conditions, psychological and emotional stress, levels of emotional exhaustion, and the impact of professional activities on overall health. Results. The professional activities of EMS personnel take place amid a persistent combination of high work- loads, limited opportunities for recovery, and a precarious sense of safety, which creates the conditions for chronic psychological and emotional stress. Paramedics constitute a particularly vulnerable group, characterized by more intense physical exertion, an unstable work environment, and lower job satisfaction. For physicians, the primary source of stress is the combination of high responsibility and the simultaneous influence of several professional and organizational factors, which creates a cumulative effect of psychological and emotional strain. Work-related stress and emotional exhaustion in both groups are systemic and multifactorial in nature. Their mutually reinforcing effects manifest in deteriorating sleep quality, overall health, reduced work capacity, and dimin- ished decision-making effectiveness. A lack of psychological support further exacerbates these processes, limiting the ability to adapt and recover under conditions of chronic stress. Conclusions. EMS personnel work under conditions of high professional and physical demands, constant stress, and limited psychological resources, which leads to significant emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction that is largely a result of adaptation to working conditions rather than full professional fulfillment, as well as frequent inten- tions to leave the profession, highlighting the high risk of professional burnout and the need for systematic optimiza- tion of working conditions and the development of support programs.