@article{ref1,
title="Work-related injuries sustained by emergency medical technicians and paramedics in Turkey",
journal="Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi",
year="2016",
author="Gülen, Bedia and Serinken, Mustafa and Hatipoğlu, Celile and Özaşır, Derya and Sonmez, Ertan and Kaya, Gokhan and Akpınar, Güleser",
volume="22",
number="2",
pages="145-149",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Evaluated in the present study were locations, descriptions, and results of work-related injuries (WRIs) sustained by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics in Turkey's most crowded city, İstanbul. <br><br>METHODS: After the present study had been accepted by the urban health authority, a questionnaire was emailed to the healthcare personnel of İstanbul's 195 ambulance stations. <br><br>RESULTS: Included in the present study were the responses of 901 members of staff (660 EMTs and 241 paramedics), with a mean age of 29.5±6.1 (min: 18; max: 61). The majority of participants (94.9%) had encountered verbal abuse from the public, and 39.8% had encountered physical violence from patients' relatives. Levels of satisfaction with work in emergency medical services (EMS) was also evaluated, and 510 participants (57.6%) were unhappy. Regarding gender, female employees were more likely to be verbally attacked (p=0.01), while males were more likely to be physically attacked (p=0.001). It was reported that motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) were the most common cause of WRIs (81.4%), followed by needle-stick injuries (52.2%), ocular exposure to blood and other fluids (30.9%), and sharp injuries (22.5%). Only 10.5% (n=95) of WRIs were reported to authorities; 488 (54.2%) of participants just attended to the practice to prevent possible WRIs. <br><br>CONCLUSION: For paramedics and EMTs, risk of WRI is obviously high. Strategies to decrease and prevent verbal and physical violence should be developed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1306-696X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}