EVALUATION OF ANXIETY AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL INCOVID-۱۹ PANDEMICS

INTRODUCTION: Emergency medical services (EMS) are an important part of the healthcare system. Decision-making is the most important part of their profession because they oftenhave to make quick decisions and act on them despite critical situations. They are often the firstto deal with a Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) patient and experience severe physical,mental, or moral stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of anxiety andprofessional competence of prehospital emergency medical personnel in the COVID-۱۹epidemics.MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in ۲۰۲۱. Atotal of ۲۰۰ prehospital emergency medical personnel were included in the study. Samplingmethod was census using a valid questionnaire of Corona Anxiety Scale and professionalcompetence. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software version ۲۱ viadescriptive statistics and analytical tests.RESULTS: Mean and standard deviation of professional competence and anxiety ofemergency medical staff were reported as ۸۲.۳۷ ± ۶۵.۱۳ and ۹۸.۱۷ ± ۱۱.۱۱, respectively. Theresults of the study on the relationship between the scores of the studied variables showed asignificant relationship so that the level of anxiety with competence was remarkably related (p< ۰.۰۵).CONCLUSIONS: The stress and anxiety of the COVID-۱۹ epidemic might have adverseeffects on the professional competence of prehospital emergency medical personnel as well astheir mental health. Applying strategies to reduce anxiety and attending disaster-related coursescould help the quality of EMS by improving professional competence.

کلیدواژه ها:

anxiety ، professional competence ، COVID-۱۹ ، prehospital emergency medical personnel