Low self-reported stress despite immune-physiological changes in paramedics during rescue operations

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Paramedics face significant occupational stress, yet often exhibit a tendency to ignore or deny its impact.
• This denial can lead to detrimental health outcomes, including stress-related diseases, underscoring a critical gap in understanding their stress response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the divergence between physiological and psychological stress responses in paramedics.
• To compare stress indicators in paramedics versus a control group of white-collar workers.

Main Methods:

• Assessed psychological stress, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and immune parameters in 16 paramedics and 17 controls.
• Measured electrocardiogram (ECG) during a 24-hour shift for paramedics.
• Utilized questionnaires to identify rescue-service specific stressors and their psychological impact.

Main Results:

• Paramedics exhibited a higher CAR and altered immune parameters compared to controls, even on non-work days.
• ECG recordings revealed acute stress responses during rescue situations.
• Despite objective stress indicators, paramedics reported lower perceived mental stress and higher depersonalization.

Conclusions:

• Paramedics experience significant physiological stress, but often psychologically negate their daily work-related stress.
• The findings emphasize the need for targeted stress-management interventions for paramedics, focusing on sensitization to their stress reactions.