title: Characterizing job satisfaction and intent to leave among nationally registered emergency medical technicians: an analysis of the 2005 LEADS survey.
abstract: The primary purpose of this study was to characterize job satisfaction with opportunities for advancement, job satisfaction with pay and benefits, and intent to leave the EMS profession among Nationally Registered EMT-Basics and EMT-Paramedics. A secondary data analysis was performed on the National Registry of EMTs Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attributes and Demographic Study Project (LEADS) 2005 core survey. We used chi-square and multiple logistic regression analyses to test for differences in job satisfaction with opportunities for advancement, job satisfaction with pay and benefits, and intent to leave the EMS profession across years of experience and work location. Among 11 measures of job satisfaction, NREMT-Basics and NREMT-Paramedics were least satisfied with opportunities for advancement and pay and benefits (67.8 and 55.2%, respectively). Nearly 6% of respondents reported intentions of leaving the profession within 12 months. In univariate analyses, job satisfaction with advancement opportunities varied across years of experience and work location. Job satisfaction with pay and benefits varied across years of experience and work location. The proportion reporting intentions of leaving the profession did not vary across the two independent variables of interest. In multivariable logistic regression, statistical differences observed in univariate analyses were attenuated to non-significance across all outcome models. Income, personal health, level of EMS certification, and type of EMS work were significant in several outcome models. EMS workforce research is at its infancy, thus our study adds to a limited but growing body of knowledge. In future and replicated research, one will need to consider different person and organizational variables in predicting different measures of job satisfaction among EMS personnel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 230 McKee Place, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. pattersond@upmc.edu
authors.forename: P Daniel
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Charity G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Nels D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Sanddal
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wingrove
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: LaCroix
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D014481:United States