References
Could mindfulness activity improve occupational health in UK paramedics?
Abstract
Emerging research is supporting the implementation of mindfulness-based strategies for NHS staff. It has been shown that, by spending 10 minutes daily on the activity, health professionals can improve their emotional and cognitive functioning, while reducing work-related rumination. Through an exploratory multi-methods approach, this study sets out to quantify the occupational health levels of paramedics, and establish their appreciation of both their employer's health and wellbeing policy and mindfulness as a concept, for the overall purpose of gaining a qualitative insight into whether mindfulness activity could improve occupational health. Paramedics reported high levels of occupational stress, coupled with minimal levels of knowledge or experience of mindfulness as a health-promoting concept. Structured application of mindfulness strategies within prehospital care may promote a range of health benefits for paramedics, lead to improved organisational efficiency for trusts and support positive outcomes for patients.
Occupational stress is a significant health issue affecting UK ambulance workers and a central theme identified in the Employee Mental Health Strategy from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) (2018). By its very nature, the paramedic role lends itself to an unscheduled and often chaotic environment where individuals are expected to make rapid clinical decisions in the face of increasing public scrutiny (Mildenhall, 2012).
According to the Health and Safety Executive (2010), occupational stress concerns the adverse or detrimental reactions that staff experience in response to disproportionate levels of pressure placed upon them at work. In prehospital care, exposure to traumatic events, driving at speed and working long or unsociable hours significantly increase the risk of burnout, leading to reduced job satisfaction, increased absenteeism and a diminished quality of care (Thyer et al, 2018). With 91% of ambulance staff having experienced stress, low mood or anxiety related to their working environment, sickness rates among ambulance services now exceed those of all other NHS organisations (NHS Digital, 2017). A greater emphasis should be placed on developing health and wellbeing models to support the holistic welfare of staff.
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