Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2026
10:16
Psychophysiological Stress Assessment Using Biofeedback
Published on: July 31, 2009
Objectifying psychomental stress in the workplace--an example.
J E Fischer1, A Calame, A C Dettling
1Department of Behavioral Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich. fischer@ifv.huwi.unizh.ch
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|September 1, 2000
Summary
Organizational changes in a pediatric intensive care unit reduced salivary cortisol levels in one nursing team. Staff disruption in another team negated these stress-reducing effects, highlighting the importance of team cohesion.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Endocrinology
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Psychomental stress significantly impacts healthcare worker well-being and productivity.
- Physiological stress markers, such as salivary cortisol, are underutilized in assessing workplace stress.
- Pediatric critical care units present a highly stressful environment for nursing staff.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify organizational changes to mitigate stress in a pediatric intensive care unit.
- To implement targeted interventions aimed at reducing workplace stressors.
- To evaluate the impact of these organizational changes on nurses' physiological stress levels, measured by salivary cortisol.
Main Methods:
- A repeated measurements observational cohort study design was employed.
- 84 nurses from two independent teams (A and B) in a pediatric intensive care unit participated.
- Salivary cortisol was measured every 2 hours and after stressful events, before and after intervention implementation.
Main Results:
- Team B, which experienced stable staffing, showed a significant decrease in salivary cortisol levels at the start of the late shift post-intervention (p = 0.0009).
- Team A, which underwent significant staff changes, did not exhibit a significant reduction in cortisol levels (p = 0.464).
- A control group (early shift) demonstrated no significant changes in cortisol levels between study periods.
Conclusions:
- Organizational changes can effectively reduce physiological stress markers like cortisol in healthcare settings.
- Disruption of social coherence due to high staff turnover can override the benefits of organizational interventions.
- Maintaining team stability is crucial for maximizing the positive impact of workplace improvements on staff well-being.
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