FSD3939 Inappropriate and Violent Treatment in Emergency Services and First Responders 2024
The dataset is (C) available for research only (including Master's, doctoral and Polytechnic/University of Applied Sciences Master's theses). The dataset may not be used for teaching, study (e.g. seminar papers, essays) or other theses (Bachelor's theses or equivalent).
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Study title
Inappropriate and Violent Treatment in Emergency Services and First Responders 2024
Dataset ID Number
FSD3939
Persistent identifiers
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3939https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3939
Data Type
Quantitative
Authors
Abstract
The study examined the prevalence of inappropriate and violent treatment in Finland's rescue services and emergency medical care, as well as the impacts of these phenomena and potential preventive measures. The survey is part of the Zero Tolerance project (Pelastustoimen nollatoleranssi syrjinnälle ja häirinnälle - faktaa vai fiktiota?), which explores the prevalence, manifestation, measures, and effects of inappropriate and violent treatment experienced in the rescue and emergency medical services sectors.
At the beginning of the survey, respondents were asked whether they had experienced or observed inappropriate or violent treatment, either within their own organization or from external sources. The prevalence of such treatment was assessed by asking how often the respondents or their colleagues had encountered various forms of inappropriate or violent behavior (e.g., threats, sexual harassment, discrimination) during the past 12 months. After this, the respondents were asked to specify their personal experiences and observations related to the different forms of treatment
The effects of inappropriate or violent treatment (physical/psychological/professional) were assessed by asking about the type and duration of the impacts. Additionally, the survey explored how the respondents reacted to such situations. Next, the survey asked whether the respondent's organization has a reporting system in place for reporting inappropriate or violent treatment. The respondents were also asked for their views on the functionality and use of these reporting systems, as well as their level of work-related exhaustion. Finally, the survey gathered the respondents' opinions on the measures taken by their organization to prevent inappropriate or violent treatment and the perceived effectiveness of these measures.
The background variables in the data include the respondent's occupational group, organizational position, organizational affiliation, gender, work rhythm, length of career, contact method, and language version.
Keywords
ambulance services; assault; discrimination; fire-fighting services; first aid; job satisfaction; paramedical personnel; rescue services; working conditions; workplace bullying
Topic Classification
- Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
- Social behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)
- Working conditions (CESSDA Topic Classification)
Series
Individual datasetsDistributor
Finnish Social Science Data Archive
Access
The dataset is (C) available only for research including master's theses.
Data Collector
- Emergency Services College
Funders
- Finnish Fire Protection Fund (VN/2023/16355)
Time Period Covered
2024
Collection Dates
2024-08-15 – 2024-09-15
Nation
Finland
Geographical Coverage
Finland
Analysis/Observation Unit Type
Individual
Universe
People aged 15 and over working in the rescue services and emergency medical care.
Time Method
Cross-section
Sampling Procedure
Non-probability: Availability
The survey was distributed to all rescue and emergency medical service sectors within Finland's wellbeing services counties and autonomous regions, as well as to contract fire brigades and fire brigade associations, national rescue sector associations, and educational institutions. The survey was targeted at all individuals aged 15 and older operating under these entities, regardless of the nature of their employment or civil service position.
The data was collected in cooperation with several rescue service organizations. The invitation to participate and a link to the online form were sent out through a total of 23 different channels. The channels were classified into three groups: invitations sent to subordinates via the organization's management, invitations sent to staff and operators via the organization's communications or office, and invitations sent to operators in the field via rescue service media and newsletters. Information on the response channel has been included as a variable in the data. A total of 960 respondents from the rescue services and emergency medical services participated in the survey out of a target population of approximately 32,000 people.
Collection Mode
Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)
Research Instrument
Structured questionnaire
Response Rate
3
Data File Language
Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.
The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.
FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.
Data Version
1.0
Completeness of Data and Restrictions
If the respondent answered "Not at all" to the selected prevalence indicator battery, their values for all prevalence indicator battery specific indicators k5_X-k11_X and k14_X-k20_X were changed by the researchers to -1 (did not see the question). If the respondent had not personally encountered any inappropriate or violent behavior k3_1-k4_7 and k12_1-k13_7, their values for all impact indicators k21_X-k23_X were changed by the researchers to -1 (did not see the question). If the respondent reported that a reporting system k24_X was not in use, their value on the corresponding education indicator k25_X was changed by the researchers to -1 (did not see the question).
Background questions were branched based on the respondent's reported organizational affiliation (k2). Rescue departments and emergency medical services saw questions k32, k39, and k40. Contract fire brigades and fire brigade associations saw questions k33, k34, k35, and k36. National organizations and educational institutions saw questions k37 and k38. If the respondent was operational personnel, they saw question k40. If the respondent was on call, they saw question k35. All respondents saw questions k31, k41, k42_x, and k43_x.
Organizational position was measured using several different variables (k36_x, k38, and k39) due to differences in the work cultures of the organizations. For the purposes of identification and comparison, these were combined by the researcher into a single variable, Organisaatioasema.
To prevent identification of respondents, the variables organizational affiliation k2, Organisaatioasema (organizational position), gender variable k31, rescue service and emergency care work rhythm k32, weekly workload estimate for contract fire brigades and fire brigade associations k33, monthly on-call workload estimate for contract fire brigades and fire brigade associations k35, length of career k41, and open-ended response variable k43 were reclassified by the researcher. Variables k7_10_1, k8_11_2, k9_5_1, k18_5_1, and k18_5_2 were removed from the data entirely. In addition, the researcher changed the background organizations of some respondents in order to ensure their anonymity.
Weighting
There are no weight variables in the data.
Citation Requirement
The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.
Bibliographical Citation
Emergency Services College: Inappropriate and Violent Treatment in Emergency Services and First Responders 2024 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2025-07-15). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3939; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3939
Deposit Requirement
Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.
Disclaimer
The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.
Related Publications
Saal, Oliver, Iida Silfverhuth, Konsta Huovinen, Aino Harinen, Riikka Salmi, Janne Koivukoski, ja Mimmi Tolvanen. Tulta ilman savua: Epäasiallinen ja väkivaltainen kohtelu pelastusalalla ja ensihoidossa. Pelastusopiston julkaisu. B-sarja, Tutkimusraportit 6/2025. Kuopio: Pelastusopisto, 2025. Saatavilla: http://info.smedu.fi/kirjasto/sarja_B/B6_2025.pdf.
Study description in machine readable DDI-C 2.5 format
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