Introduction: Due to the physically demanding and high-stress nature of emergency medical services, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel are at increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and reduced quality of life. Safety behavior may be associated with lower occupational health risks in this population. This study investigated the relationship between safety behavior, MSDs, and quality of life among EMS personnel.
Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 among 232 EMS personnel in Yazd Province, selected through stratified random sampling. We collected data using the Safety Behavior Questionnaire developed by Mehdinia et al., the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). We analyzed the data using SPSS version 27 with descriptive and inferential statistical tests, including the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis.
Result: The mean scores for safety behavior, MSDs, and quality of life were 3.19 +/- 0.25, 4.60 +/- 1.54, and 46.28 +/- 19.08, respectively. Safety participation showed significant positive correlations with mental health (r = 0.154, p = 0.019) and social relationships (r = 0.150, p = 0.010). Safety behavior was also significantly associated with MSDs (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that MSDs were significantly associated with safety behavior (B = -0.022, p = 0.030), whereas quality of life did not significantly predict safety behavior (p = 0.48). In addition, age (p = 0.014), educational level (p = 0.038), body mass index (p = 0.032), and weekly working hours (p = 0.014) were significantly related to safety behavior, whereas work shift was not (p = 0.825).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that MSDs are a common occupational health concern among EMS personnel in Yazd Province. Safety behavior showed a statistically significant association with MSDs, although the observed relationships were weak. Therefore, safety-related behaviors, along with other occupational factors, should be considered when evaluating EMS personnel's occupational health status.