AN ASSESSMENT OF STRESS IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU): AN EXPLORATORY STUDY UTILISING SELF-ASSESSMENT, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AND SALIVARY CORTISOL MEASURES
AN ASSESSMENT OF STRESS IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU): AN EXPLORATORY STUDY UTILISING SELF-ASSESSMENT, PHYSIOLOGICAL, AND SALIVARY CORTISOL MEASURES
Author(s): Ivana ŽIVODER, Jurica Veronek, Melita SAJKO, Natalija Uršulin-Trstenjak, Rosana RIBIĆ, Mihaela KRANJČEVIĆ-ŠČURIĆ, Mara ŽUPANIĆSubject(s): Individual Psychology, Social psychology and group interaction, Comparative Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Behaviorism, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar
Keywords: Stress; ICU; physiology; cortisol level; healthcare professionals;
Summary/Abstract: The study investigates exposure to stress by respondents working in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and differences in using three instruments to measure stress. The survey was conducted from September to October 2018 in Dubrava Clinical Hospital in the ICU unit, with forty-one (41) healthcare professionals. Three forms of testing were set up: self-evaluation of stress, measurements of physiological indicators, and cortisol levels. The results show a statistically significant difference in mean cortisol levels, with the first sample much higher than other samples. There were significant interactions between skin conduction (SC) and stress levels, where all participants exhibited increases in SC. Heart rate variability (HRV) shows a slight correlation with stress levels in the group possessing substantially more stress experience. Although some differences were observed, all stress elements for professionals working in ICUs indicates that they cope well with stressful situations
Journal: Društvena istraživanja - Časopis za opća društvena pitanja
- Issue Year: 32/2023
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 137-152
- Page Count: 16
- Language: English
