Association between workload and support utilisation - A longitudinal study on emergency medical service personnel

Background Social support is a key protective factor against mental illness. Yet, qualitative studies have suggested that emergency medical service personnel working in ambulance contexts underutilise workplace-provided social support. Although a possible barrier to seeking support, no previous quantitative study has examined workload’s association with support utilisation in high-strain emergency settings. This study assesses the longitudinal association between emergency medical service personnel’s workload and utilisation of workplace-provided formal support in an ambulance context. Methods 341 emergency medical service personnel responded to quarterly surveys on support utilisation. The survey data was combined with organisational records of emergency responses, providing a measure of workload at a station level. Logistic mixed models were performed to assess associations between workload, measured by number of emergency responses, and formal support utilisation. Results Emergency medical service personnel at higher-workload stations were more likely to use support than those at lower-workload stations (OR = 2.03, CI = 1.26; 3.35). This effect persisted after adjusting for confounders (OR = 1.93, CI = 1.12; 3.35). Conclusion This is the first study examining emergency medical service personnel’s workload and social support utilisation in a longitudinal design. Contrasting qualitative findings, this study presents evidence of greater support utilisation under higher workload. This could reflect a need to conserve resources under pressure, and underlines the importance of accessible support in high-risk occupations.