Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40437472›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2025

Prevalence of insomnia, fatigue and symptoms of mental health problems among emergency medical service nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Marieke M E Oosterhuis-Nienhaus, Lilian C M Vloet, Sarah I Detaille, Hester Vermeulen, Jan Hoefnagel, Mischa Knol, Ellen Schepens, Mark van den Boogaard, Sivera A A Berben, Remco H A Ebben

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Marieke M E Oosterhuis-NienhausResearch Department of Emergency and Critical Care, School of Health Studies, University of Applied Sciences Arnhem and Nijmegen (HAN), Postbus 6960, Nijmegen, GL, 6503, The Netherlands. Marieke.Oosterhuis@han.nl.
Lilian C M VloetResearch Department of Emergency and Critical Care, School of Health Studies, University of Applied Sciences Arnhem and Nijmegen (HAN), Postbus 6960, Nijmegen, GL, 6503, The Netherlands.
Sarah I DetailleResearch Department of Human Capital Innovations, School of Organization and Development, University of Applied Sciences Arnhem and Nijmegen (HAN), Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Hester VermeulenResearch Department of Emergency and Critical Care, School of Health Studies, University of Applied Sciences Arnhem and Nijmegen (HAN), Postbus 6960, Nijmegen, GL, 6503, The Netherlands.
Jan HoefnagelDepartment Ambulance Care (V&VN Ambulancezorg), Dutch National Professional Organization for Nurses, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Mischa KnolDepartment Ambulance Care (V&VN Ambulancezorg), Dutch National Professional Organization for Nurses, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Ellen SchepensDutch Association for Bachelors of Health (NVBMH), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Mark van den BoogaardDepartment of Intensive Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Sivera A A BerbenResearch Department of Emergency and Critical Care, School of Health Studies, University of Applied Sciences Arnhem and Nijmegen (HAN), Postbus 6960, Nijmegen, GL, 6503, The Netherlands.
Remco H A EbbenResearch Department of Emergency and Critical Care, School of Health Studies, University of Applied Sciences Arnhem and Nijmegen (HAN), Postbus 6960, Nijmegen, GL, 6503, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEmergency medical service nurses worldwide face continuous high-stress situations caused by critical incidents that can overwhelm them emotionally and affect their daily functioning and sustainable employability. Repeated exposure to these incidents negatively impacts their mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues, with high prevalence rates of insomnia and fatigue among emergency medical service nurses serving as key predictors of mental health problems. Until now little is known about the mental consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on EMS nurses. This study, the first of its kind in the Netherlands, aims to assess the prevalence of insomnia, fatigue, and symptoms of mental health problems and identify associated risk factors.

methodsA national cross-sectional study was conducted in the Netherlands in spring 2022. Data were collected through an online survey among emergency medical service nurses covering personal characteristics as well as validated scales on insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

resultsPrevalence rates were 39.2% for insomnia, 32.5% for fatigue, 18.4% for anxiety, 16.2% for depression and 10% for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Not recovering from COVID-19 was linked to higher odds of fatigue, while living alone was associated with insomnia. Working as an emergency medical dispatcher and more work experience were linked to increased fatigue. Regional differences in emergency medical services organizations and full recovery of COVID-19 showed to result in lower odds of insomnia in ambulance professionals.

conclusionsInsomnia and fatigue are prevalent among emergency medical service nurses. These conditions heighten the risk of severe mental health problems and potential sickness leave. Further research is needed to explore factors contributing to these issues and to develop targeted interventions supporting professionals sustainability. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionEmergency medical service nursesFatigueInsomniaMental health statusPandemicPTSDWell-being

Identifiers

PMID40437472
PMCPMC12117935

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.