Page 67 - JSOM Summer 2023

TABLE 3 Cont.
Factor n % M SD p-value
Have you received any training from your employer on the COVID-19 vaccine or illness?
(n = 6 answered as not applicable and were not scored)
Yes 690 85.1 35.69 12.91
.058
No 121 14.9 39.53 14.74
Do you believe you have received enough information to make an informed decision about get vaccinated against COVID-19?
Yes 724 89.3 35.74 13.25
<.001
No 87 10.7 38.64 12.47
Would you be comfortable with a loved one being treated by an unvaccinated healthcare worker?
Yes 538 66.3 35.13 11.37
<.001
No 273 33.7 39.22 17.07
Would you be comfortable with a loved one being treated and transported by an unvaccinated EMS professional?
Yes 545 67.2 35.10 11.51 <.001
No 266 33.8 38.90 16.37
AEMT, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician; COVID-19, Coronavirus Disease 2019; EMT, Emergency Medical Technician; M, Mean;
PMBS, Posttraumatic Maladaptive Belief Scale; SD, Standard Deviation

such as self-reported anxiety, work-related stress, and work- points), considered their primary information sources to be
place satisfaction. These factors accounted for an additional accurate and reliable (3.57 points), reported to work despite
and statistically significant 4.7% of the variance in PMBS having flu- or COVID-like symptoms (3.99 points), or had
total scores, ΔR = 0.047, ΔF (3, 789); p < .001. Overall, someone in their household who had been diagnosed with
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all factors accounted for 18.2% of the variance in PMBS COVID-19 (3.13 points). Table 5 shows the variables used in
total scores, R = 0.182, Adjusted R = 0.160, ΔF (21, 789); the regression model and the unique criterion variance of each.
2
2
p < .001. The hierarchical linear regression model summary is
located in Table 4.
Discussion
Using squared semi-partial correlations, the unique predic- The severity of maladaptive cognitions in EMS professionals
tive utility of multiple independent variables was obtained. is concerning given the linkage to PTSI, suicidality, substance
The respondent having someone in their household diagnosed abuse, and other trauma- or stress-related disorders. 18,19,25–27
with COVID-19 accounted for 1.0% (sr = 0.01; p = .003) Our results seem to indicate that maladaptive cognitions are
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of the model variance. Reporting to work while experiencing occurring in EMS professionals and that pandemic-related fac-
COVID-like symptoms (sr = 0.016; p < .001) and the belief tors and minority race are substantial risk factors.
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that the respondent’s primary information sources were accu-
rate and reliable (sr = 0.024; p < .001) accounted for an ad- Race was significant in our univariate analysis, and there were
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ditional 4.0% of model variance. The general level of anxiety universally higher PMBS total scores in every racial minority
felt by respondents accounted for an additional 2.1% (sr = compared with their Caucasian counterparts. This result is not
2
0.021; p < .001) of the variance in PMBS total scores. Finally, surprising given the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19
a respondent’s primary source of information being their em- pandemic on minority communities, who have higher hos-
ployer, primary physician, or continuing education course ac- pitalization and mortality rates when compared with their
counted for 0.6% (sr = 0.006; p = .04) of model variance. Caucasian counterparts. 28,29 Given the sharp upsurge in xe-
2
nophobia and discrimination against Asian Americans and
Negative associations within the model identified that in those Pacific Islanders related to the pandemic, it is also possible
whose primary information source was their employer, em- such intolerance is partially responsible for COVID-19-related
ployee health, primary physician, or a continuing education maladaptive cognitions in that specific minority group. Our
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course scored an average of 2.13 points lower on the PMBS. results show that the highest difference in scores are found
Additionally, scores were an average of 1.41 points lower in in Latinx respondents (53.8 ± 18.1 vs. 35.6 ± 12.6; p < .01).
those who felt that healthcare workers were at higher risk for In these respondents, PMBS total scores were an average of
COVID-19 infection and 2.8 points lower in those who had a 1.5 times higher. In Latinx communities, the economic infra-
friend diagnosed with COVID-19. structure has historically been much more unstable, and both
public health policies and the immigration ideascape have
Positive associations in the model identified that PMBS scores kept these communities from accessing critical support. In
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were higher in those who experienced a self-reported higher July 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
general level of anxiety since the start of the pandemic (4.62 announced that people of Latinx descent made up more than
TABLE 4 Hierarchical Linear Regression Model Summary
Adjusted Std. Error of the R Square Sig. F
Block R R Square R Square Estimate Change F Change df1 df2 Change Durbin-Watson
1 0.134 0.018 0.013 12.978 0.018 3.699 4 806 0.005 —
2 0.170 0.029 0.018 12.946 0.011 1.808 5 801 0.109 —
3 0.367 0.135 0.115 12.288 0.106 10.779 9 792 <0.001 —
4 0.427 0.182 0.160 11.972 0.047 15.147 3 789 <0.001 2.028

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