A Multi-Method Evaluation of an Australian Emergency Service Employee Assistance Program

Abstract

There is a paucity of literature and research published in refereed journals or books that evaluate Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in an emergency service organization. The purpose of the evaluation presented in this paper was to identify levels of satisfaction with the established EAP in a particular ambulance service, using a scientifically robust approach. Hence, a mixed method was adopted which incorporated the collection of quantitative and qualitative, objective and subjective data. Survey data (n = 667) supported high to very high levels of satisfaction with the individual services the organization provides, the EAP program in general, and a high level of usage of these services by ambulance personnel. Usage data demonstrated that more than half of the staff in the organization utilised support services at least once in a given year and qualitative data reiterated the relatively high levels of satisfaction as well as elucidated some issues that require further investigation. Results supported the structure and delivery of this service's staff support program and provide orientation for future research.

Key Words:

• Emergency service
• evaluation
• staff support
• EAP
• peer support
• ambulance
• stress
• trauma