PP21 Exploration of behaviours and lifestyle factors impacting levels of vitamin D within a UK ambulance service workforce (EVOLVED)
Year: 2024
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background Vitamin D deficiency can significantly impact health and wellbeing and may affect workplace performance. Evidence shows that shift, indoor and night working are risk factors for vitamin D deficiency; furthermore, awareness of vitamin D is variable amongst ambulance service staff, putting them at increased risk of deficiency. Screening in one ambulance service identified 46% of staff had insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels (i.e., 50.0nmol/L or less, as defined by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Methods A purposive sample of 40 ambulance staff were recruited over seven months and invited to a one-hour, online, semi-structured interview. Interviews explored behaviours and lifestyle factors of those above and below the recommended adequate vitamin D levels and included questions about the impacts of vitamin D level on personal and professional wellbeing, and the opportunity to suggest possible improvements. Interview transcription analysis consisted of both descriptive and inductive thematic methods. Results Participants were aged between 21 and 61 years and worked in varying roles, including control room (n=9), operational (n=20) and support staff (n=11) and included those from diverse ethnic backgrounds, to represent Trust demographics. 6 themes were identified: working environment; supplements; activity levels; outside spaces; impact of deficiency symptoms; and diet. A lack of awareness of vitamin D related issues was identified, despite participants emphasising the importance of awareness to allow staff to take responsibility to promote their own health and wellbeing. Conclusion Several improvement suggestions were made including improved access to and maintenance of outside spaces at work, annual well-being checks and improved breaks. Strategies to promote awareness of vitamin D should be considered to improve staff wellbeing in this area. Participants positively perceived research exploring staff health and wellbeing, highlighting this as an area for future research.
Source: Emergency Medicine Journal
Institution: East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Language: English
Topic: Vitamin D Research Studies
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4405154936