Stress Salivary Biomarkers Variation during the Work Day in Emergencies in Healthcare Professionals

Daniel Pérez-Valdecantos, Alberto Caballero-García, Teodosia Del Castillo-Sanz, Hugo J. Bello, Enrique Roche and Alfredo Córdova
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Daniel Pérez-Valdecantos: Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, GIR de Ejercicio Físico y Envejecimiento, Campus Universitario “Los Pajaritos”, Universidad de Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Alberto Caballero-García: Departamento de Anatomía y Radiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, GIR de Ejercicio Físico y Envejecimiento, Campus Universitario “Los Pajaritos”, Universidad de Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Teodosia Del Castillo-Sanz: Gerencia de Emergencias Sanitarias de Castilla y León, UME Soria, Hospital Virgen del Mirón, 42005 Soria, Spain
Hugo J. Bello: Departamento de Matemáticas, Escuela de Ingeniería de la Industria Forestal, Agronómica y de la Bioenergía, Campus Universitario “Los Pajaritos”, Universidad de Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Enrique Roche: Instituto de Bioingeniería y Departamento de Biología Aplicada-Nutrición, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Spain
Alfredo Córdova: Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, GIR de Ejercicio Físico y Envejecimiento, Campus Universitario “Los Pajaritos”, Universidad de Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Objective: The work of health professionals in hospital emergency rooms is highly demanding due to the decisions they must take. In the present study, we consider assessing stress response in emergency health workers, measuring related biomarkers such as cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and salivary ?-amylase during the whole working day. Method: An analytical, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out. The study was conducted in the emergency rooms of two public hospitals. Ninety-seven professionals participated, 45 corresponding to one hospital and 52 to the other. Four salivary samples were obtained according to circadian rhythms: at 8:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 00:00 h/24 h. The data were subsequently analyzed. Results: Cortisol levels decreased throughout the working day, with minimum values being at 24 h. A similar pattern was observed in DHEA. The ?-amylase levels increased throughout the working day, reaching its peak at 15:00 h, and decreasing at 24 h, compared to the data from the rest of the working day. Conclusions: Since reference/baseline values are not presented, this work is focused on a stress situation experienced during one regular working day in emergency rooms with no extreme situations. In this context, stress, measured through cortisol and ?-amylase, is present in emergency room doctors and nurses. However, the increase in DHEA, due to its anabolic condition, could counteract their effect, suggesting a positive effect on their professional actions.

Keywords: amylase; cortisol; DHEA; emergencies; health professionals; stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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