An interesting study has been published on Procedia about the personality traits that foster professional workers in the ambulance and pre-hospital field.

The study explores the links between personality factors and the professional performance of four different categories of ambulance workers: doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and dispatchers.

The 458 participants’ scores for personality factors (according to the Big Five Model), sensation seeking and time perspective scales were compared among professional and performance-based groups.

Results of the study

Results revealed significant differences among professional groups regarding neuroticism, openness to experience and time perspectives. Also, significant differences were found between high-level and low-level performance groups of nurses and dispatchers.

The ambulance workers represent a professional category submitted to very difficult working conditions considering the great risks their patients, as well as themselves, are exposed to.

The decisions they have to make within seconds about their patients’ health and life combined with the traumatic events that these professionals live every day have a significant impact on their performance as well as on the quality of their life. This impact also extends to all patients benefitting from their services.

What is the role of personality of workers?

Given the nature of their work, the personalities of the ambulance workers play a significant role in their performance and decision-making process. The present study explores the links between personality factors and the professional performance of four different categories of ambulance workers: doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and dispatchers.