title: How healthy are ambulance personnel in Central Europe?
abstract: The health status of ambulance personnel (AP) has an important impact on the quality of patient care. The aim of this study is to analyze the self-fperceived health of AP. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Hungarian AP, in which anonymous data (n = 364 subjects) were evaluated by descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Those AP who reported engaging in any amount of exercise experienced better self-rated health (odds ratio [OR]: 1.7 confidence interval [CI] 95% [1.2, 2.7]) and self-rated physical fitness (OR: 2.0 CI 95% [1.2, 2.9]), and reported less limitation in daily activities due to health problems (OR: 2.4 CI 95% [1.4, 4.0]). Those AP who reported feeling more overall stress reported 2.1 times (CI 95% [1.3, 3.2]) worse health and 1.9 (CI 95% [1.2, 2.8]) times worse self-rated physical fitness. Possibly, physical fitness protocols should be implemented and required or advised for all AP.
authors: Department of Emergency Care, Institute of Nursing and Patient Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pecs, Hungary betlehem@etk.pte.hu.
authors: Jozsef
authors: J
authors: Betlehem
authors: Central Transdanubian Regional Organization of the Hungarian National Ambulance Service, Ambulance Station, Mor, Hungary.
authors: Attila
authors: A
authors: Horvath
authors: Department of Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pecs, Hungary.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Jeges
authors: Operational Division, Hungarian National Ambulance Service, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Zsigmond
authors: Z
authors: Gondocs
authors: Department of Languages for Specific Purposes, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pecs, Hungary.
authors: Timea
authors: T
authors: Nemeth
authors: Fairview Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors: Aniko
authors: A
authors: Kukla
authors: Department of Nursing, Nursing Science, Institute of Nursing and Patient Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pecs, Hungary.
authors: Andras
authors: A
authors: Olah
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D057566:Self Report; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ambulance personnel; emergency care; physical activity; self-perceived health