Perceived support at work after critical incidents and its relation to psychological distress: A survey among prehospital providers

Abstract

Introduction Prehospital providers are at increased risk for psychological distress. Support at work after critical incidents is believed to be important for providers, but current guidelines are in need of more scientific evidence. This study aimed to investigate: (1) to what extent prehospital providers experience support at work; (2) whether support at work is directly associated with lower distress and (3) whether availability of a formal peer support system is related to lower distress via perceived colleague support. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed prehospital providers from eight western industrialised countries between June and November 2014. A supportive work environment..