Lived experiences and coping mechanisms of female paramedics in a high stress, trauma burdened environment

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences and coping mechanisms of female paramedics in a high stress, trauma burdened environment. A qualitative exploratory study reviewed the literature on stress, trauma and coping. Multiple definitions, factors and symptoms of stress and trauma that affect the female paramedic were consulted. Coping and coping mechanisms were also explored. Nonprobability and purposive sampling was used to draw a sample of six female paramedics. Microsoft Teams was used to gather data through semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was used to generate themes and subthemes, from which the study findings were derived. Conclusions were reached and recommendations made. The study revealed that female paramedics’ work environment had a significant impact on their experience of stress and trauma, as well as on their coping and well-being. Recommendations were made for HR practitioners, career counsellors, industrial and organisational psychologists, line managers and female paramedics to promote a better understanding of the impact of stress and trauma, and to improve the well-being of female paramedics.

Lolu cwaningo luhlole izimpilo eziphilwa kanye nezindlela zokumelana nezimo kwabesifazane bezimo eziphuthumayo endaweni enokukhandleka kwengqondo okuphezulu, egcwele ukuhlukumezeka. Ucwaningo lokuqonda inkinga yezenhlalo noma yabantu lubuyekeze imibhalo yezincwadi eziphathelene nokukhandleka kwengqondo, ukuhlukumezeka kanye nokumelana nesimo. Ihlole izincazelo eziningi, izici nezimpawu zokukhandleka kwengqondo nokuhlukumezeka okuthinta abezimo eziphuthumayo besifazane. Kuphinde kwacutshungulwa izindlela zokumelana nesimo. Kusetshenziswe isampula ekhethwe ngokusekelwe emibandeleni engahleliwe kanye nesekelwe ezicini zenani labantu kanye nenjongo yocwaningo ukwenza isahlulelo sesampula yabezimo eziphuthumayo besifazane abayisithupha. I Microsoft Teams isetshenzisiwe ukuqoqa imininingwane ngokusebenzisa izingxoxo ezihlelwe kancane. Ukuhlaziywa kokuqukethwe kusetshenziswe ukukhiqiza izingqikithi nezindikimba zesibili endikimbeni enkulu, lapho kutholwe khona okutholwe ocwaningweni. Kufinyelelwe esiphethweni futhi kwenziwa iziphakamiso. Ucwaningo luveze ukuthi indawo yokusebenza yabezimo eziphuthumayo besifazane ibe nomthelela omkhulu kulokhu abahlangene nakho ekukhandlekeni kwengqondo nasekuhlukumezekeni kwabo, kanye nasekumelaneni kwabo nezimo nokuphila kahle. Iziphakamiso zenziwa kubasebenzi bakwa-HR, abeluleki bezemisebenzi, ochwepheshe bezengqondo bemboni nenhlangano, abaphathi ababambe iqhaza ekuqhubeni imisebenzi yebhizinisi eyinhloko yenkampani. kanye nabezimo eziphuthumayo besifazane ukuze kuqondwe kangcono umthelela wokukhandleka kwengqondo nokuhlukumezeka, kanye nokwenza ngcono ukuphila kahle kwabezimo eziphuthumayo besifazane.

Hierdie studie het die geleefde ervaring en hanteringsmeganismes van vroulike paramedici in ’n hoë-stres-, traumabelaaide omgewing ondersoek. ’n Kwantitatiewe ondersoekende studie is gedoen na die literatuur oor stres, trauma en hantering. Dit het veelvuldige definisies, faktore en simptome van stres en trauma ondersoek wat ’n uitwerking op die vroulike paramedikus het. Hantering en hanteringsmeganismes is ook ondersoek. Nie-waarskynlikheid- en doelgerigte-steekproefneming is gebruik om ’n steekproef van ses vroulike paramedici te neem. Microsoft Teams is gebruik om data deur semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude in te samel. Inhoudanalises is gebuik om temas en subtemas te genereer waaruit die studie se bevindings afgelei is. Gevolgtrekkings is gemaak en aanbevelings gedoen. Die studie het onthul dat vroulike paramedici se werksomgewing ’n betekenisvolle uitwerking op hul ervaring van stres en trauma het, asook op hul hantering en welsyn. Aanbevelings is gedoen aan menslike hulpbronpraktisyns, loopbaanadviseurs, bedryf- en organisatoriese sielkundiges, lynbestuurders en vroulike paramedici om ’n beter begrip te skep van die uitwerking van stres en trauma, en om die welsyn van vroulike paramedici te verbeter.