| Summary: | The aim of the study was to determine the most important occupational psychosocial risk factors for mental health in physician assistants and paramedics during the pandemic of COVID-19. The survey was conducted using 29 questions on psychosocial risks related to the organization of work and anti-epidemic measures, interpersonal relations at work, professional and personal characteristics. For assessment of mental health disorders the self-report scale DASS-21 was used, with 21 items on symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The survey was conducted in October 2022 with a total of 68 physician assistants and paramedics from inpatient, outpatient and emergency medical care. Psychosocial factors with the greatest risk frequency were “absence of adequate additional training in epidemic conditions”, “uncertainty in the anti-epidemic measures applied”, and “change of workplace, work tasks and organization of work without asking the opinion of workers”. At a significant frequency of risk were also worries about patients’ life and health, personal, and family members’ life and health. The last two factors correlated with the severity of depression, anxiety and stress. Looking at the interpersonal relations at work, the most problematic were “absence of recognition and encouragement for a job well done” and “inability to freely discuss problems and make decisions in the work team”. Professional psychosocial risk factors with the highest frequency were “insufficient professional experience with infectious patients”, “very high workload during the wave of COVID-19” and “lack of job satisfaction”. These three factors correlated significantly with levels of depression, anxiety and stress.
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