Role of Emotional Intelligence in Turnover Intention Among EMS Providers

The Emergency Medical Services are strained in the face of high workforce turnover and substantial cost pressures.  Voluntary workforce turnover exacerbates direct and indirect cost pressures including training, productivity loss, loss of talent, and covering vacancies. Reduction of voluntary turnover is therefore of practical interest for worker retention and cost reduction.  While a robust body of literature is dedicated to exploring precursors of turnover, few studies have explored affective factors leading to turnover emergency medical service clinicians. Key questions investigated are (1) the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (EI) and turnover intention and (2) the relationship between EI and TI controlling for known predictors of turnover intention. A convenience sample (n=446) was obtained through an online survey created with validated EI, turnover, stress and other instruments and distributed to EMS providers via agencies and online forums. Analytic methods include t-tests, Pearson correlations, and linear regression. Higher trait EI was found to result in decreased turnover intention both at the global (r = -.31, p < 0.001) and factor levels (Wellbeing, r = -.22, p< 0.001; Self-Control r = -.19, p < 0.001; Emotionality, r = -.35, p < 0.001; Sociability, r = -.17, p < 0.001). While EI is found to predict turnover intention, other factors such as physical health, perceived stress, and income may be better predictors of turnover intent. Among the important implications of this study is trait EI should be included in discussions of job turnover of EMTs and paramedics, especially in human resource planning. In addition, it highlights that the mental and physical health of EMS clinicians deserves closer attentiveness by researchers, clinicians, policymakers and EMS managers.