Anxiety and stress among anaesthesiology and critical care residents during high-fidelity simulation sessions

• Published in: Anaesthesia critical care & pain medicine 2016-12, Vol.35 (6), p.407-416
• Main Authors: Bauer, Christian, Rimmelé, Thomas, Duclos, Antoine, Prieto, Nathalie, Cejka, Jean-Christophe, Carry, Pierre-Yves, Grousson, Sébastien, Friggeri, Arnaud, Secco, Julien, Bui-Xuan, Bernard, Lilot, Marc, Lehot, Jean-Jacques
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Anesthesiology - education; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Blood Pressure; Critical Care; Fear - psychology; Fear of negative evaluation; Female; Heart Rate; High-fidelity simulation; Humans; IASTA; Internship and Residency; Male; Medical education; Neuropsychological Tests; Patient Simulation; Prospective Studies; Sex Characteristics; STAI; Stress; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Stress, Psychological - psychology
• ISSN: 2352-5568; 2352-5568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.accpm.2016.01.004

Abstract Objectives High-fidelity simulation (HFS) calls heavily upon cognitive capacities and generates stress and anxiety. The objectives of this prospective, observational study were to assess trait anxiety and fear of negative evaluation (FNE) in anaesthesiology and critical care residents and appraise their state anxiety levels and cardiovascular responses during HFS training sessions. Subjects and methods First-year anaesthesiology and critical care residents completed the French-Canadian adaptation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (IASTA Y-1: state anxiety, IASTA Y-2: trait anxiety) and the French adaptation of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE). Their heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were assessed before and after the training session. Results Twenty-three residents (8 women, 15 men) were included in the study. IASTA Y-1 and Y-2 scores were low (respectively 40.2 ± 9.9 and 39.7 ± 8) and FNE scores were moderate (16.7 ± 5.5). HR measurements before and after the training sessions were significantly higher than at rest (respectively 78 ± 19, 80 ± 17 and 63 ± 9 b/min; P < 0.001). BP measurements before and after the HFS sessions were not significantly different. The IASTA Y-2 and FNE scores of female residents were significantly higher than those of male residents (respectively P = 0.004 and P = 0.049). Conclusion First-year anaesthesiology and critical care residents had low trait anxiety and FNE. HFS training increased their HR but not their BP. Their state anxiety also remained low. Several differences between individuals were noted, particularly between men and women.