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A National Assessment of Ideal Cardiovascular Health among Emergency Medical Service Professionals

Bentley, Melissa
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7964-3636
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480456097279235

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Public Health.
This dissertation examines cardiovascular health (CVH) among Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers. CVH is defined by the American Heart Association (AHA) as the simultaneous presence of seven ideal factors; smoking status, body mass index, physical activity, healthy diet score, total cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose. Cardiovascular diseases comprise the top causes of death in the United States, and because of this, the AHA has set forth a 2020 Impact Goal to improve the CVH of those in the United States by 20% while reducing mortality from cardiovascular events by 20%. The first aim of this dissertation was to compare overall CVH, and its individual components, between nationally-certified EMS professionals and the general population. Overall ideal CVH and ideal component CVH was found to be higher in EMS when compared to the general population. Specifically, EMS professionals were more likely to have ideal levels of physical activity, diet, cholesterol and fasting blood glucose. The second aim of this dissertation was to identify associations between work-life characteristics and CVH among EMS professionals. Some work-life characteristics were identified to be associated with ideal CVH. It was noted that as the number of EMS organizations at which the provider performed EMS work increased, overall CVH ii decreased. Those providers working in aeromedical services and those who reported conducting patient care had higher prevalence of ideal CVH when compared to other types of agency types and services. Lastly, those providers who were more highly satisfied with their main EMS job had a higher prevalence of ideal CVH when compared to those that were dissatisfied. The third aim of this dissertation was to identify associations between CVH and absenteeism among EMS professionals. A higher prevalence of workplace absenteeism was observed among first responders when compared to estimates from the general working population. Females self-reported a higher number of missed workdays when compared to males and as age increased, an increase in number of missed workdays and a decrease in ideal CVH was observed. Those individuals who were married reported fewer missed workdays and higher ideal CVH then those of other types of marital status. With respect to work-life characteristics, those EMS professionals practicing in an advanced life support setting (Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics) reported greater average missed workdays than those working in a basic life support setting (Emergency Medical Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians). Lastly, as typical weekly call volume increased to did the reported absenteeism. Specific characteristics that were found to be associated with both absenteeism and CVH included sex, age, marital status, certification level and typical weekly call volume. This dissertation highlights the necessity for several areas of future research in both cardiovascular disease and occupational epidemiology. First, a longitudinal assessment of CVH and research into tailored public health interventions to increase the proportion of EMS providers with all seven ideal CVH components is needed. Second, an understanding of the causal relationship between CVH and health outcomes and job performance among EMS professionals is warranted. Since stressful work conditions are thought to exacerbate cardiovascular disease risk, additional workplace interventions to mitigate the negative consequences of providing prehospital emergency care may be needed. Lastly, a detailed assessment of the causal mechanisms linking CVH with workplace absenteeism is required to expand the understanding of the relationship between the EMS profession and overall health.
Randi Foraker, PhD (Advisor)
Sarah Anderson, PhD (Committee Member)
Abigail Shoben, PhD (Committee Member)
David Woods, PhD (Committee Member)
281 p.
Epidemiology; Public Health
Cardiovascular Health; Absenteeism; Emergency Medical Services

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bentley, M. (2016). A National Assessment of Ideal Cardiovascular Health among Emergency Medical Service Professionals [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480456097279235

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bentley, Melissa. A National Assessment of Ideal Cardiovascular Health among Emergency Medical Service Professionals. 2016. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480456097279235.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bentley, Melissa. "A National Assessment of Ideal Cardiovascular Health among Emergency Medical Service Professionals." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1480456097279235

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1480456097279235
740
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.