Behavioral health risk factors of United States emergency medical technicians: the LEADS Project.

OBJECTIVE: Personal risk behaviors are modifiable. This report describes the 2002 national baseline of behavioral health risk factors of US emergency medical technicians (EMTs) that can guide policy and program development in improving EMT well-being. METHODS: A 19-item Health Behavioral Risk Survey (Appendix) was added to the 2002 Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Demographic Study mail survey. Risk survey questions covering physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use were modeled after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) questionnaire. Personal, non-work related seatbelt use and motor vehicle driving questions were adopted from the 2002 US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey (MVOSS). Post-stratification adjustment factors were used to allow comparisons with BRFSS and MVOSS national estimates. RESULTS: A total of 1,919 EMT respondents were compared with 239,866 BRFSS and 5,220 MVOSS respondents. These comparisons indicate that EMT-Basics drove more slowly than paramedics; male EMTs drove faster, drank more, and wore their seatbelts less often than did female EMTs; female EMTs smoked more and engaged in vigorous exercise less than males. Those EMTs who reported to be in fair or poor health, smoked more and exercised less than those who reported to be in good or excellent health. Regardless of gender, age, or race, EMTs, on average, wore their seatbelts less often, drove faster than, and were less likely to engage in moderate physical exercise, compared to US adults. CONCLUSION: Stereotypical gender differences in risk behaviors exist among EMTs. An EMT's self-reported health positively correlates with smoking and exercising. Compared to US national estimates, except for smoking and vigorous exercise, EMTs have increased risk behaviors.

Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attribute and Demographic Study (LEADS): an interim report.

OBJECTIVES: This ten-year longitudinal study examines various attributes and demographic characteristics of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics to identify factors that influence their careers, to identify trends in emergency medical services (EMS), and to provide data on why individuals report leaving the EMS career field. METHODS: A 46-item core survey and a 16-item cross-sectional survey were administered to EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics who were randomly selected and placed in cohort groups stratified by duration of continuous registration at each level and by race. The core survey focused on five broad areas of attributes and demographics, including general, professional, educational, personal, and financial. Case weights were calculated for respondents in each stratum, reflecting the individual's probability of selection. These case weights were adjusted, within strata, for nonresponse. The survey will be administered annually. The cross-sectional survey focused on EMS education. RESULTS: This interim report is descriptive of the overall responses of EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics to core survey items. The demographic characteristics of EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics are described as well as a description of their work activities, working conditions, and job satisfaction CONCLUSIONS: The initial EMT and paramedic attribute and demographic data have been collected, analyzed, and reported. The longitudinal nature of this study requires further data collection and analysis to accurately present trends in EMS, as well as correlations and associations between identified attributes and other factors that influence the careers of EMTs and paramedics. Further reports of the findings will be necessary.