Stress and Strain in Emergency Physicians

Status:

ongoing

Aims:

The aim of the study is to assess the stress response of emergency physicians during their shifts in the Medical Intervention Car (MIC) and while working in the operating room. Using eye tracking, ST-T segment analysis in the ECG (Detection of myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and repolarization abnormalities), salivary cortisol, the NASA Task Load Index (TLX, Instrument for measuring workload), and heart rate variability, the study aims to gain an understanding of the balance between stress and recovery among emergency physicians on duty. Additionally, the study will examine the influence of single and repeated stressors on these parameters. The findings will serve as the basis for evidence-based measures to prevent stress-related health consequences and to optimize resource allocation in emergency medical services.

Activities/Methods:

The study procedures can be divided into three phases. In the first phase of the study, baseline HRV is measured on a rest day and during a 5-minute measurement immediately after waking up. All time- and frequency-domain parameters, as well as nonlinear and complex parameters, are calculated. In addition, a saliva sample is to be collected immediately following the HRV measurement. The goal is to measure the salivary cortisol concentration. In the second phase, participants are asked to wear the chest strap, the watch, and a portable 12-lead ECG during a normal workday in the surgical clinic. Here, too, a saliva sample is to be provided, but at the end of the workday. In the third phase of the study, data is collected during the MIC deployment. For this purpose, the participant is fitted with the chest strap, the watch, and the portable 12-channel ECG before their deployment. To accurately measure pupil dilation, decision-making, movements, and to correctly document times, the deployments are recorded using an eye-tracking camera. The ECG and chest strap continuously record data throughout the entire workday. After each emergency call, the participant is given the NASA-TLX to complete, and a saliva sample is collected. Additionally, samples are collected at the beginning and end of the workday.

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