17 | Organizational well-being and quality of work among emergency medical services healthcare professionals: a survey on healthcare workers’ perceptions

Introduction. In emergency healthcare systems, the organizational well-being of EMS personnel is crucial to ensuring effective and sustainable service. However, this aspect is often overlooked, despite healthcare workers being daily exposed to highly emotionally demanding situations, irregular shifts, heavy workloads, and significant decision-making pressure.
This study is aimed at exploring perceptions of organizational well-being among healthcare professionals working in the territorial EMS (118), analyzing the relationship between the work environment and care setting in order to identify potential issues of organizational, relational or professional natures

Methods. This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study investigated the subjective perceptions of EMS 118 personnel using the Organizational Well-Being Questionnaire – Annex A, a nationally validated instrument. The anonymous structured questionnaire consisted of 82 multiple choice questions rated on a six-point Likert scale, in addition to five sociodemographic items. Administered digitally between May and September 2025, the survey involved a sample of 245 professionals, including nurses, physicians, ambulance drivers/rescuers, and managers from various organizations involved in out-of-hospital emergency care.

Results. The sample consisted predominantly of men (65%), mainly aged 51-60 years, with permanent employment contracts (89.8%). Results showed generally positive working conditions, with low levels of perceived mobbing and stress (10.2%). No significant perceptions of discrimination emerged. The distribution of workload and responsibilities was considered fair; however, dissatisfaction with salary (63.3%) and limited confidence in merit-based recognition and career progression (67.3%) were reported. The work environment was perceived as collaborative, with good operational autonomy and recognized professional competence.

Conclusions. The study identified key critical issues, including imbalance between workload and compensation, limited transparency in career advancement pathways, and low involvement in decision-making processes. These factors may negatively affect motivation and the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals. Targeted interventions - such as merit recognition, improved internal communication, and psychological support - are essential to promote staff well-being. Investment in these areas is not only an ethical responsibility but also a necessary condition for the efficiency of emergency healthcare systems.