Stress Response in Emergency Among Physicians in Helicopter and Ambulance Based Emergency Medical Systems

Hormonal and Physiological Stress Response of Medical Doctors Working in Rescue Helicopter or Van

Stress reactions in emergency physicians will be measures using cortol-awakening-reaction, heart-rate-variability and standardised stress questionnaires

In a field study with within-subject design, there will be conducted the hormonal and physiological stress strain of emergency physicians working in rescue helicopters or van on different days of service on different headquarters. The investigation of the parameter of stress will be conducted on two days of rescue service, on two days of clinical service and as a control on two days off. The quantification of the hormonal stress strain will be carried out with the cortisol awakening response, there will be conducted 3 saliva samples with identical interval after getting up within 30 minutes. While the labour time on the rescue service and on the clinical service and the whole day off, the heart rate variability will show the degree of physiological stress. This will be measured with a pulse-belt on the chest, which the participant will carry the whole day. In addition, participants will fill out a set of questionnaire on the first day of measurement.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medical Doctor working in rescue helicopter or van

Exclusion Criteria:

• Metabolic disease
• Autoimmune disease
• Heart disease
• Blood disease
• Mental disease
• Endocrinologic disease
• BMI>30
• >10 cigarettes/day
• Taking cortisone medication