Acute Stress and Anxiety in Medical Residents on the Emergency Department Duty

作者：Gonzalez Cabrera Joaquin M; Fernandez Prada Maria; Iribar Concepcion; Molina Ruano Rogelio; Salinero Bachiller Maria; Peinado Jose M^*

来源：International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018, 15(3): 506.

DOI：10.3390/ijerph15030506

• acute stress
• cortisol
• medical resident
• Emergency Department-duty day
• anxiety

The objectives of this longitudinal study were to compare salivary cortisol release patterns in medical residents and their self-perceived anxiety levels between a regular working day and a day when on call in the emergency department (ED-duty day) and to determine any differences in cortisol release pattern as a function of years of residency or sex. The study included 35 residents (physicians-in-training) of the Granada University Hospital, Granada, Spain. Acute stress was measured on a regular working day and an ED-duty day, evaluating anxiety-state with the Spanish version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Physiological stress assessment was based on salivary cortisol levels. Cortisol release concentrations were higher on an ED-duty day than on a regular working day, with a significantly increased area under the curve (AUC) (p < 0.006). This difference slightly attenuated with longer residency experience. No gender difference in anxiety levels was observed (p < 0.001). According to these findings, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and anxiety levels of medical residents are higher on an ED-duty day than on a regular working day.

• 出版日期2018-3