Epidemiology and Health

COVID-19: Original Article

Lack of compensation for COVID-19-related overtime work and its association with burnout among EMS providers in Korea: Ji-Hwan Kim, Jaehong Yoon, Soo Jin Kim, Ja Young Kim, Jinwook Bahk, Seung-Sup Kim; Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023058. Published online June 15, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023058

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study examined the association between lack of compensation for COVID-19-related overtime work (LCCOW) and burnout among emergency medical service (EMS) providers in Seoul, Korea.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 693 EMS providers in Seoul, Korea. Participants were classified into 3 groups according to their experience of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related overtime work and LCCOW: (1) “did not experience,” (2) “experienced and was compensated,” and (3) “experienced and was not compensated.” Burnout was measured using the Korean version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, which has 3 subdomains: personal burnout (PB), work-related burnout (WRB), and citizen-related burnout (CRB). Multiple linear regression was applied to examine whether LCCOW was associated with burnout after adjusting for potential confounders.
RESULTS
In total, 74.2% of participants experienced COVID-19-related overtime work, and 14.6% of those who worked overtime experienced LCCOW. COVID-19-related overtime work showed a statistically non-significant association with burnout. However, the association differed by LCCOW. Compared to the “did not experience” group, the “experienced and was not compensated” group was associated with PB (β=10.519; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.455 to 17.584), WRB (β=10.339; 95% CI, 3.398 to 17.280), and CRB (β=12.290; 95% CI, 6.900 to 17.680), whereas no association was observed for the “experienced and was compensated” group. Furthermore, an analysis restricted to EMS providers who worked overtime due to COVID-19 showed that LCCOW was associated with PB (β=7.970; 95% CI, 1.064 to 14.876), WRB (β=7.276; 95% CI, 0.270 to 14.283), and CRB (β=10.000; 95% CI, 3.435 to 16.565).
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that LCCOW could be critical in worsening burnout among EMS providers who worked overtime due to COVID-19.; Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 2021년에 진행된 서울시 구급대원 693 명의 설문조사 자료를 이용해서 COVID-19으로 인한 초과근무 경험에 대한 보상 부족과 번아웃의 연관성을 살펴보았다. 초과근무 경험이 없었던 구급대원의 번아웃 점수와 비교할 때, 초과근무 경험이 있고 항상 적절한 보상을 받은 구급대원의 번아웃 점수는 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 관찰되지 않았지만, 초과근무 경험이 있고 적절한 보상을 받지 못한 적이 있는 구급대원의 번아웃 점수는 통계적으로 유의하게 높게 나타났다. 초과근무를 경험한 구급대원으로 한정한 분석에서는 적절한 보상을 항상 받은 구급대원에 비해서 적절한 보상을 받지 못한 적이 있는 구급대원의 번아웃 점수가 통계적으로 유의하게 높았다.

Key Message
Using a survey of 693 EMS providers in Seoul, Korea, we examined the association between lack of compensation for COVID-19-related overtime work (LCCOW) and burnout. Higher scores of burnouts were observed among those with LCCOW, but not among those without LCCOW, compared to the EMS providers who did not experience overtime work due to COVID-19. Furthermore, in the analysis restricted to EMS providers who had worked overtime due to COVID-19, LCCOW was associated with burnout.

Systematic Review

Non-cancer health risks in firefighters: a systematic review: Jeong Ah Kim, Soo Yeon Song, Wonjeong Jeong, Jae Kwan Jun; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022109. Published online November 16, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022109

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

osFirefighters are occupationally exposed to hazardous factors that may increase their risk of disease. However, non-cancer disease risk in firefighters has not been systematically examined. This systematic review aimed to identify non-cancer disease risk in firefighters and determine whether the risk differs according to job characteristics. We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and KoreaMed databases using relevant keywords from their inception to April 30, 2021. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies version 2.0 was used to assess the quality of evidence. Due to study heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was presented. The systematic literature search yielded 2,491 studies, of which 66 met the selection and quality criteria. We confirmed that the healthy worker effect is strong in firefighters as compared to the general population. We also identified a significant increase in the incidence of lumbar disc herniation, lower back pain, angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in firefighters compared to other occupational groups. Contradictory results for the risk of PTSD and anxiety disorders related to rank were reported. Sufficient evidence for increased risk of lumbar disc herniation, lower back pain, angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, and PTSD was available. The risk of non-cancer diseases varied depending on job type, years of service, and rank. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results because the classification criteria for firefighters’ jobs and ranks differ by country.

Summary

Korean summary
본 연구는 소방관과 비암성 질환과의 직업관련성을 파악하기 위해 체계적 문헌고찰을 수행하였다. 소방관은 근골격계 질환, 협심증, 심근경색, 외상후 스트레스 장애 등 일부 질환에서 일관된 직업관련성이 보고되었다. 하지만 대부분의 연구에서 연구결과가 건강근로자효과의 영향을 보정하지 못하였고 근무형태, 근무조건, 근무강도 등에 따라 일관되지 못한 결과를 보고하고 있다.

Key Message
In firefighters, risks of lumbar disc herniation, lower back pain, angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, and post-traumatic stress disorder were increased constantly. Due to the failure to avoid the healthy-worker effect, consistent relationship between firefighters and non-cancerous diseases has not been reported.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Associations between Recognition and Behaviors Regarding the Use, Washing and Management of Firefighting Protection Suits and Public Health Awareness of Occupational Exposure Risks among Firefighters
Soo Jin Kim, Seunghon Ham
Fire.2024; 7(5): 156. CrossRef

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