Investigating the relationship between safety behavior, musculoskeletal disorders, and quality of life of Prehospital Emergency Operational Personnel

Introduction: Due to the physically demanding and high-stress nature of emergency medical services, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are at increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and reduced quality of life. Safety behavior may be associated with lower occupational health risks in this population. This study investigated the relationship between safety behavior, MSDs, and quality of life among EMS personnel.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۲۵ among ۲۳۲ EMS personnel in Yazd Province, selected through stratified random sampling. We collected data using the Safety Behavior Questionnaire developed by Mehdinia et al., the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). We analyzed the data using SPSS version ۲۷ with descriptive and inferential statistical tests, including the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis.Result: The mean scores for safety behavior, MSDs, and quality of life were ۳.۱۹ +/- ۰.۲۵, ۴.۶۰ +/- ۱.۵۴, and ۴۶.۲۸ +/- ۱۹.۰۸, respectively. Safety participation showed significant positive correlations with mental health (r = ۰.۱۵۴, p = ۰.۰۱۹) and social relationships (r = ۰.۱۵۰, p = ۰.۰۱۰). Safety behavior was also significantly associated with MSDs (p < ۰.۰۵). Regression analysis showed that MSDs were significantly associated with safety behavior (B = -۰.۰۲۲, p = ۰.۰۳۰), whereas quality of life did not significantly predict safety behavior (p = ۰.۴۸). In addition, age (p = ۰.۰۱۴), educational level (p = ۰.۰۳۸), body mass index (p = ۰.۰۳۲), and weekly working hours (p = ۰.۰۱۴) were significantly related to safety behavior, whereas work shift was not (p = ۰.۸۲۵).Conclusion: The findings indicate that MSDs are a common occupational health concern among EMS personnel in Yazd Province. Safety behavior showed a statistically significant association with MSDs, although the observed relationships were weak. Therefore, safety-related behaviors, along with other occupational factors, should be considered when evaluating EMS personnel's occupational health status.

کلیدواژه ها:

Safety Culture ، Musculoskeletal disorders ، Quality of Life ، Emergency Medical Services