Stress in Medical Staff and Controls

Background Medical personnel is increasingly exposed to psychological stress e.g. caused by work intensification combined with time pressure, fear of job loss, lacking appreciation and/or freedom of decision, causing psychopathological or psychosomatic symptoms involving, inter alia, the cardiovascular system. The aims of the present study are the investigation of the current amount of work-related psychological stress, its perception and underlying reasons, as well as applied recovering strategies (e.g. physical activity) in Austrian health care professionals and in controls.

Material and methods In total, 140 female and male participants (70 participants belong to medical staff; 70 participants belong to non-medical staff) between the ages of 25-65 years will be recruited. The individual stress perception will be evaluated using questionnaires (e.g. Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress, TICS; Brief Symptom Inventory, BSI-18, Short Work Evaluation). 24h salivary cortisol (at 5 time points) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurement will be performed to objectify the influence of stress on the physical body. The physical activity level will be tested by performing a cardiopulmonary exercise test (bicycle spiroergometry).

Expected results From the present study the investigators expects insight into: first, the individual perception of work-related psychological stress among health care professionals compared to the controls; second, the association of occupational stress, HRV and laboratory stress parameters and third, the role of a good physical performance on psychological stress perception.