Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the United States Emergency Medical Services Workforce: A Scoping Review

Figures & data

Table 1. Inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Inclusion criteria
Population	EMS personnel, including but not limited to: EMTs Advanced or intermediate EMTs Paramedics First responders EMS physicians	Prehospital nurses Prehospital physician assistants Telecommunicators or dispatchers Firefighters EMS students
Content	Contained stated objective relating to, or examined, or discussed the demographics of EMS workforces or training programs —OR— Contained stated objective relating to, or examined, or discussed the hiring, retention, promotion, compensation, training, or workplace experience of underrepresented groups (by race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender expression) within EMS workforces or training programs
Time	1960 to present
Type	Peer-reviewed studies, theses/dissertations, non-journal professional publications, editorials/op-eds, and journalism
Exclusion criteria
Language	Non-English
Geography	Non-US setting
Content	Focused on non-EMS training or workplace activities (e.g., firefighting, hazardous materials)

Figure 1. Inclusion/exclusion flowchart.

Table 2. Included full-text articles by theme.

Study Theme (references)	Number (N = 87)	Percentage (%)^
Workforce Demographics (1, 17–27)	12	13.8
Recruitment and Retention
Workforce Entry and Exit (1, 20, 24, 28–32)	8	9.2
Education and Testing (33–39)	7	8.0
Compensation and Benefits (24, 40–43)	5	5.7
Leadership, Mentorship, and Promotion (24, 31, 32, 44)	4	4.6
Workplace Experience and Occupational Wellbeing
Stress, Burnout, Job Satisfaction, and Absenteeism (45–63)	19	21.8
Mental Health (32, 47, 50, 64–75)	15	17.2
Health Behaviors (32, 62, 75–83)	11	12.6
Harassment and Bullying (24, 31, 64, 84–88)	8	9.2
Occupational Violence (24, 86, 87, 90–94)	8	9.2
Occupational Injuries (96–102)	7	8.0
Gender in the Workplace (103, 104)	2	2.3

^ non-mutually exclusive categories, percentages may not add to 100.

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