Professional Quality of Life among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences
Abstract
Aim:
The professional quality of life for emergency department (ED) and emergency medical services (EMS) workers is affected by many factors. Environmental and operational differences between rural and urban settings may further influence these outcomes. This study aimed to compare the professional quality of life among emergency healthcare workers employed in rural and urban areas.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2025 and May 2026 in Erzurum, Türkiye. Physicians, nurses, and EMS personnel working in EDs and EMS stations were invited to participate. Professional quality of life was assessed using the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL-5). Sociodemographic and occupational characteristics were also collected and compared between rural and urban healthcare workers.
Results:
A total of 203 healthcare professionals were included in the study, of whom 178 (87.7%) worked in rural areas and 25 (12.3%) in urban areas. Urban participants were significantly older and had greater professional seniority than rural participants (p<0.001). Exposure to workplace violence and lack of post-shift rest were also more common among urban workers (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between rural and urban groups regarding compassion satisfaction, burnout, or secondary traumatic stress scores (all p>0.05). Compassion satisfaction was negatively correlated with burnout and secondary traumatic stress.
Conclusions: Rural and urban emergency healthcare workers demonstrated similar levels of professional quality of life. Strategies aimed at enhancing compassion satisfaction and reducing occupational stressors may improve the well-being of emergency healthcare personnel regardless of workplace location.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Emergency Medicine
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
October 29, 2026
Submission Date
July 17, 2026
Acceptance Date
October 7, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 7 Number: 3
APA
İşleyen, Ö. F., Tortum, F., & Tekin, E. (2026). Professional Quality of Life among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences. New Trends in Medicine Sciences, 7(3), 98-105. https://doi.org/10.56766/ntms.1996649
AMA
1.İşleyen ÖF, Tortum F, Tekin E. Professional Quality of Life among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences. New Trend Med Sci. 2026;7(3):98-105. doi:10.56766/ntms.1996649
Chicago
İşleyen, Ömer Faruk, Fatma Tortum, and Erdal Tekin. 2026. “Professional Quality of Life Among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences”. New Trends in Medicine Sciences 7 (3): 98-105. https://doi.org/10.56766/ntms.1996649.
EndNote
İşleyen ÖF, Tortum F, Tekin E (October 1, 2026) Professional Quality of Life among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences. New Trends in Medicine Sciences 7 3 98–105.
IEEE
[1]Ö. F. İşleyen, F. Tortum, and E. Tekin, “Professional Quality of Life among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences”, New Trend Med Sci, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 98–105, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.56766/ntms.1996649.
ISNAD
İşleyen, Ömer Faruk - Tortum, Fatma - Tekin, Erdal. “Professional Quality of Life Among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences”. New Trends in Medicine Sciences 7/3 (October 1, 2026): 98-105. https://doi.org/10.56766/ntms.1996649.
JAMA
1.İşleyen ÖF, Tortum F, Tekin E. Professional Quality of Life among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences. New Trend Med Sci. 2026;7:98–105.
MLA
İşleyen, Ömer Faruk, et al. “Professional Quality of Life Among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences”. New Trends in Medicine Sciences, vol. 7, no. 3, Oct. 2026, pp. 98-105, doi:10.56766/ntms.1996649.
Vancouver
1.Ömer Faruk İşleyen, Fatma Tortum, Erdal Tekin. Professional Quality of Life among Emergency Healthcare Workers in Erzurum: Rural and Urban Differences. New Trend Med Sci. 2026 Oct. 1;7(3):98-105. doi:10.56766/ntms.1996649
