Examining the Occupational Stress Experienced by Ambulance Staff: A Mixed-Methods Stress Audit
Funding:
BNSSG ICB Research Capability Funding.
What is the research question?
Four research question are proposed:
1. Which stressors have the most negative impact on the health, well-being, performance, and intention to leave the ambulance staff?
2. Why/how does this negative stress-related impact occur for ambulance staff?
3. Which individuals or groups of ambulance staff are most “at risk” of negative stress-related outcomes (e.g., mental ill-health, poor performance)?
4. How can ambulance staff be better supported with work-related stress?
What is the problem?
Work stress is extremely prevalent in ambulance staff who report the highest burnout (51%) in the NHS, with only a third feeling they had achieved a good balance between work and home life.1 Ambulance staff report the second highest sickness rate (8.8%), second only to ambulance support staff (10.4%).2 More than 1000 ambulance workers have left their profession since 2018 to seek a better work-life balance, more pay, or to take early retirement,3 therefore contributing to the staffing crisis currently experienced in the NHS. Thus, a renewed emphasis on sustaining the health, well-being, and performance of the NHS ambulance workforce is urgently required to retain staff and ensure the quality and safety of patient care.
What is the aim of the research?
The aim of the planned NIHR research project is to improve our understanding of occupational stress among NHS ambulance staff and create/test an intervention to support well-being and retention. Specifically, the research has three objectives: (1) to develop our knowledge of the stressors encountered by ambulance staff and the impact these stressors have on health, well-being, performance and intention to leave; (2) to work collaboratively with stakeholders (i.e. Ambulance Service Trusts) to identify potential stress management interventions for their specific profession; and ultimately, (3) to develop and test a targeted intervention to tackle work stress and retain paramedics in the UK ambulance service.
How will this be achieved?
The proposed NIHR research project will utilise a mixed-methods approach:
This will include:
1. A stress audit which involves:
• A national online survey with ambulance staff
• Individual interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders, advocates, ambulance staff, and external partners.
2. Development and testing of a novel and targeted stress management intervention
Development and testing of the intervention will be carried out according to the updated Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions4 and will align to NICE guidelines on behaviour change intervention development.
Who is leading the research?
Dr Zoe Anchors, Research Fellow, University of the West of England.
Further information
Updated published findings can be found here.
For more information or to get involved with this project, please contact bnssg.research@nhs.net.