Abstract
According to previous research, ambulance personnel often consider themselves as healthy, but at the same time several studies show that they suffer from several stress-related illnesses, take early retirement and even suffer early death. The aim of this study was to explore mental stress during the Trier Social Stress Test. Questions were whether heart rate measurement could replace cortisol concentration in saliva as an indicator of stress and if there were differences between genders. During 20 Trier Social Stress Tests heart rate and salivary cortisol concentrations were measured. Heart rate was measured every 15 seconds and salivary cortisol was collected at seven occasions. Fourteen men and six women (sixteen ambulance nurses and four paramedics) participated. A questionnaire with background data was collected. Statistical analysis used was non-parametric tests to adjust for misalignment. During the Trier Social Stress Test women had their highest salivary cortisol concentration before start of test while the maximum values for men were 10 to 20 minutes after start. In contrast, there was no difference in heart rhythm before, during and after test between genders. No correlation between heart rate and salivary cortisol was found. There was no significant difference in stress response according to personnel’s age or level of education. Women and men exhibit different hormonal stress responses when it comes to performing unfamiliar actions, something that has not been seen before. Since no correlation could be seen between heart rate and salivary cortisol concentration they cannot replace each other as indicators of stress.
Highlights
The ambulance service aims to take care of sick or injured people indoors and outdoors, during summer and winter, 24 hours a day, and sometimes under additional pressure
The Swedish ambulance service has to follow the regulations of the National Board of Health [1] stating that each team must consist of at least one registered nurse who is medically responsible for the patient and for the administration of drugs
Previous studies have shown that there is a difference between the cortisol response and the sympathetic adrenergic related response during and after the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) [38, 39]
Summary
The ambulance service aims to take care of sick or injured people indoors and outdoors, during summer and winter, 24 hours a day, and sometimes under additional pressure. The teamscompositions vary in terms of physical abilities, age, height, gender and education. The Swedish ambulance service has to follow the regulations of the National Board of Health [1] stating that each team must consist of at least one registered nurse who is medically responsible for the patient and for the administration of drugs. The other team member can be either a nurse or a nursing assistant, called paramedic. A study found that 98% felt that they had good health, while at the same time 69% stated that they had at least one medical
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