Wellbeing of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Personnel in a Challenging Work Context: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) personnel provide on-scene trauma care to patients with high mortality risk. The HEMS work context is characterized by an exceptionally exposure critical incidents, emotionally demanding patient encounters, and having perform under pressure limited resources. aim of this study was further our understanding the factors underlying wellbeing given their challenging context. Method: Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted from a University Hospital in Netherlands. Interview topics included context, personal characteristics, coping, engagement, psychosocial support. To analyze data, generic qualitative research approach used inspired grounded theory, including open, axial selective coding. Results: analysis revealed ten categories that insight into context: team collaboration, procedures, informal peer support, organizational support follow-up care, drives motivations, attitudes, other stressors, potentially traumatic events, emotional impact. findings show are highly motivated have strong mentality. Various important wellbeing, such as job resources social can impact but use various coping strategies deal this. perceived need for low among participants. Conclusion: This identifies personnel. It also provides culture help-seeking behavior population. may be beneficial understand employee contexts well.