Self-care agency (SCA) among U.S. emergency medical service (EMS) practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic: Foundational research for creating a functional definition of self-care literacy

Self-care agency (SCA) is part of the emerging concept of self-care literacy. SCA is the ability to meet and recognize care needs, assess available resources, and act to achieve goals. Self-care literacy is defined as knowledge, motivation, and competencies to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain health with or without the support of a healthcare provider. In the U.S., over 269,000 EMS practitioners assess injuries and illnesses and provide emergency medical care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SCA was assessed using the Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised among 91 EMTs. Findings will be presented and implications for defining self-care literacy will be explored.