A qualitative exploration of behaviours and lifestyle factors impacting levels of vitamin D within a UK ambulance service workforce (EVOLVED)
Duncan, Emma Hinkins, Clair Brown, Shona Noakes, Tessa Brown, Callum
Duncan, Emma
Hinkins, Clair
Brown, Shona
Noakes, Tessa
Brown, Callum
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Abstract
Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency can impact health and well-being and may affect workplace performance. Shift, indoor and night working, alongside variable awareness of vitamin D, likely puts ambulance staff at an increased risk of deficiency. Screening in one ambulance service detected that 46% of staff had insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels (i.e. 50.0 nmol/L or less, as defined by NICE). The aim of the EVOLVED study was to explore the behaviours and lifestyle factors of ambulance service staff with a range of vitamin D levels and understand the impacts on their work and personal lives.
Methods: A purposive sample of 40 ambulance staff was recruited over four 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 well-being, with the opportunity to suggest possible improvements. Interview transcription analysis was undertaken using an intuitive thematic analysis strategy.
Results: Participants were aged between 21 and 69 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. Five themes were identified: reaction to result; diet; deficiency symptoms and impacts; impact of work on maintaining adequate vitamin D levels; and activity levels.
Conclusion: A lack of awareness of vitamin D-related issues was identified, alongside a variety of improvement suggestions, including participants emphasising the importance of awareness, to allow staff to take responsibility to promote their own health and well-being. Strategies to promote awareness of vitamin D should be considered to improve staff well-being in this area. Participants positively perceived research exploring staff health and well-being, highlighting this as an area for future research.
Abstract published with permission.