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An Exploration of Sources, Symptoms and Buffers of Occupational Stress in 9-1-1 Emergency Call Centers

Hendrika Meischke, PhD, MPH, Ian Painter, Michele Lilly, Randal Beaton, Debra Revere, Becca Calhoun, K. D. Seeley, Yvonne Carslay, Cathy Moe, Janet Baseman

Aug 01, 2015|AEDR 2015 Vol. 3 Issue 2|Original Research

9-1-1 telecommunicators are uniquely exposed to numerous occupational stressors on an ongoing basis. Yet little is known about the sources of occupational stress and symptoms of stress in these workers and even less is known about variables that can serve as stressors or buffers to stress in the 9-1-1 call center work environment. We sought to explore the inter-relationships amongst job stressors, potential risk and protective factors, and symptoms of stress in 9-1-1 telecommunicators. Our long-term goal was to use outcomes of this study to guide and...

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Is Dispatching to a Traffic Accident as Stressful as Being in One? Acute Stress Disorder, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Occupational Burnout in 911 Emergency Dispatchers

B. Trachik, Madeline R. Marks, MS, Clint Bowers, PhD, Greg Scott, MBA, EMD-QI, Christopher Olola, PhD, Isabel Gardett, PhD

Mar 22, 2015|AEDR 2015 Vol. 3 Issue 1|Original Research

Emergency dispatchers are exposed to potentially traumatic events at rates that likely exceed that of emergency first responders. Although not physically present at the time of the incident, it is likely that this repeated exposure in concert with highly stressful work conditions could lead to potentially negative emotional and physical outcomes. To date few studies have examined rates of stress related pathology and subsequent impairment in emergency dispatchers. The following study takes an initial step to investigate rates of Acute Stress Disorder, Secondary Traumatic Stress and...

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