Comparative characteristics of indicators of the psychophysiological state of emergency staff and icu departments

At present, there is a tendency towards an increase in emotional problems everywhere, this especially affects the working-age population – relationships in a team, professional work process – all this leads to the development of production-related stress. Health care workers are at the forefront of risk of developing stress reactions and its consequences. This is most pronounced in the specialties providing emergency medical care, among employees of ambulance teams and departments of anesthesiology and resuscitation.

The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the psychophysiological state of emergency medical staff and departments of anesthesiology and resuscitation.

Materials and methods. The study involved 67 people – employees of ambulance teams and resuscitation and intensive care units in Saratov. To obtain the necessary data, all participants filled out questionnaires – the PSM-25 psychological stress scale, the HADS hospital anxiety and depression scale, and the symptomatic questionnaire by A. Volkova and N. Vodopyanova.

Results. When questioned using the PSM-25 scale, which assesses mental tension, it was found that more than half of the respondents have a high level of stress, while the indicator of mental tension among ambulance workers is statistically significantly higher than among employees of intensive care units and intensive care units. An analysis of the HADS ques tionnaire showed that the vast majority of respondents, both in ambulance teams and in intensive care units, have a high level of anxiety and depression. In the study using the symptomatic questionnaire A. Volkova and N. Vodopyanova noted a high predisposition to the development of pathological stress reactions in most of the respondents.

Conclusion. Doctors in the specialties we study are characterized by long-term chronic stress, which can lead to the development of anxiety, depression, and pathological stress reactions. To avoid the occurrence of the conditions described above, it is important to adjust the work schedule of employees in time, to observe occupational and rest hygiene. 

1. 1 Mikhailova O.B., Farennikova E.S. Specifics of psychological well-being of different occupational groups' representatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. World of Science. Pedagogy and psychology. 2020;4(8):54. (In Russ.). https://mir-nauki.com/PDF/67PSMN420.pdf

2. 2 Chutko L.S., Surushkina S.Y., Yakovenko E.A., Anisimova T.I., Sergeev A.V., Kryukova E.M. et al. Clinical features of asthenia in the context of adjustment disorders. Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. S.S. Korsakov. 2021;121(7):55–63. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202112107155

3. 3 Van Dulmen S, Kruse F, Burgers JS. Eerstelijnszorg door de ogen van de huisarts. Een internationale studie. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2021;165:34–39. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33914426/

4. 4 Kuzmenko A.P. Correlations between indicators of psycho-physiological state, stress and availability of chemical elements in ambulance workers. Human ecology. 2014;10:12–18. (In Russ.).

5. 5 Zigmond A.S., Snaith R.P. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta psychiatrica scandinavica. 1983;6(67):361–370. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x

6. 6 Vodopyanova N.E., Vodopyanova N.E. Psychodiagnostics of stress. St. Petersburg: Piter, 2009. 336 p. (In Russ.).

7. 7 Markelova T.V., Barykina A.I. Analysis of the needs of emergency medical staff in psychological care. Personality, family and society: issues of pedagogy and psychology. 2015;6(52):95–100. (In Russ.).

8. 8 Karamova L.M., Nafikov R.G. Occupational burnout syndrome in medical workers of the ambulance station. Bulletin of the Russian State Medical University. 2013;5-6:133– 135. (In Russ.).

9. 9 Tatkina E.G. The syndrome of emotional burnout of medical workers as an object of psychological research. Bulletin of the Tomsk State Pedagogical University. 2009;11:131–134. (In Russ.).

10. 10 Gribanov I.A., Zarubina E.G. Disruption of regulatory mechanisms as a stress factor for patients with metabolic syndrome. Bulletin of the Medical Institute "REAVIZ" (Rehabilitation, Doctor And Health). 2022;12(6):48-55. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.20340/vmi-rvz.2022.6.CLIN.3