Burnout in UK Paramedics: a National Survey

This cross-sectional observational study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of burnout among UK paramedics, with a particular focus on the relationship between burnout and sleep quality. The impetus for this research stems from increasing concerns about workforce sustainability within UK ambulance services, where high attrition rates and recruitment challenges have raised concerns about the occupational wellbeing of paramedics. Burnout and poor sleep quality are known to negatively impact both individual health and job performance, making this an urgent area for empirical study.

Data were collected via an anonymous online survey disseminated through the College of Paramedics and social media channels. The survey comprised demographic questions (e.g. age, gender, years of service, shift length, and number of calls attended), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) to assess personal, work-related, and client-related burnout, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate various dimensions of sleep quality. The survey also included an item assessing intention to leave the profession.

There are approximately 22,000 registrants (full, student and associate members) to the CoP (CoP, 2021), representing the total potential sample size eligible to complete the survey. A power analysis using an online sample size calculator (http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html) - based on a 50% response distribution, a 5% margin of error, and an 80% confidence level - indicates that the required sample size will be 164. To adjust for incomplete data, the sample size has been increased by 10%, indicating a sample of 181.

Analyses were conducted using JASP. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics and prevalence rates. Correlational analyses (both frequentist and Bayesian) examined associations between burnout scores, sleep quality, and key demographic and occupational variables. Logistic regression was employed to explore predictors of burnout, including PSQI scores, shift duration, call volume, and years of service.

This study provides novel insights into the occupational wellbeing of UK paramedics, with implications for workforce planning, health promotion, and retention strategies within emergency medical services.