Occupational aspects of emergency medicine practice in Catalonia: the OPENCAT opinion survey
Author
Jacob, Javier
Gené, Emili
Alonso, Gilberto
Rimbau, Pere
Zorrilla, José
Casarramona, Francesc
Netto, Cristina
Sánchez, Pere
Hernández, Ricard
Escalada, Xavier
Miró, Òscar
Publication date
2017ISSN
1137-6821
Abstract
Objectives: To gather information on the contracting and training of members of the Catalan Society of Emergency Medicine (SoCMUE) who work in emergency medicine and services in Catalonia. To survey their opinions on certain aspects of resource availability and working conditions. Material and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study based on a survey sent to SoCMUE members. We studied the opinions of 5 types of respondent: hospital physicians, out-of-hospital physicians, hospital nurses, out-of-hospital nurses, and emergency medical technicians. Responses were grouped to compare the opinions of physicians and nurses and workers in hospital and prehospital settings. Results: We received 616 responses from 1273 members (48.4% response rate). More physicians than nurses come from outside Catalonia and have contracts specifically linked to emergency care; in addition, physicians have done less postgraduate training in emergency medicine. More hospital staff than prehospital staff have permanent contracts linked to the department where they work. More hospital physicians are specialized in internal medicine than in family and community medicine. The opinion that emergency services are inadequately staffed was widespread. Most respondents believed that patient transport is good or adequate. However, respondents working in prehospital services expressed a lower opinion of transport. Great difficulty in combining work with family (life achieving work-life balance) was expressed by 13.5% overall, and more often by hospital staff. Some type of aggression was experienced by 88.2%; 60% reported the event to superiors. Nurses reported aggression more often than physicians. A police report was filed by 10.1%. Conclusion: Emergency medicine working conditions can be improved in Catalonia according to members of SoCMUE. Relations between groups of professionals are not optimum in some aspects.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
61 - Medical sciences
614 - Public health and hygiene. Accident prevention
Keywords
Emergències
Serveis sanitaris d'emergència
Enquesta
Ocupacions sanitàries
Condicions de treball
Medicina d'urgències i emergències
Pràctica professional
Medicina d'urgències
Emergencias
Servicios sanitarios de emergencia
Encuesta
Ocupaciones sanitarias
Condiciones de trabajo
Medicina de urgencias y emergencias
Práctica profesional
Medicina de urgencias
Emergencies
Emergency health services
Poll
Health occupations
Working conditions
Urgent and emergency medicine
Professional practice
Emergency medicine
Pages
8
Publisher
Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias
Collection
29; 6
Is part of
Emergencias
Citation
Jacob, Javier; Gené, Emili; Alonso, Gilberto [et al.]. Occupational aspects of emergency medicine practice in Catalonia: the OPENCAT opinion survey. Emergencias, 2017, 29(6), p. 403-411. Disponible en: <https://revistaemergencias.org/en/articulo/occupational-aspects-of-emergency-medicine-practice-in-catalonia-the-opencat-opinion-survey/>. Fecha de acceso: 8 feb. 2024.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Ciències de la Salut [745]
Rights
© Copyright Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias