RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Emergency physicians’ experience of stress during resuscitation and strategies for mitigating the effects of stress on performance
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 839
OP 846
DO 10.1136/emermed-2021-211280
VO 39
IS 11
A1 Groombridge, Christopher James
A1 Maini, Amit
A1 Ayton, Darshini
A1 Soh, Sze-Ee
A1 Walsham, Nicola
A1 Kim, Yesul
A1 Smit, De Villiers
A1 Fitzgerald, Mark
YR 2022
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/39/11/839.abstract
AB Objective This study explored the perspectives and behaviours of emergency physicians (EPs), regularly involved in resuscitation, to identify the sources and effects of any stress experienced during a resuscitation as well as the strategies employed to deal with these stressors.Methods This was a two-centre sequential exploratory mixed-methods study of EPs consisting of a focus group, exploring the human factors related to resuscitation, and an anonymous survey. Between April and June 2020, the online survey was distributed to all EPs working at Australia’s largest two major trauma centres, both in Melbourne, and investigated sources of stress during resuscitation, impact of stress on performance, mitigation strategies used, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress and stress management training received. Associations with gender and years of clinical practice were also examined.Results 7 EPs took part in the focus group and 82 responses to the online survey were received (81% response rate). The most common sources of stress reported were resuscitation of an ‘unwell young paediatric patient’ (81%, 95% CI 70.6 to 87.6) or ‘unwell pregnant patient’ (71%, 95% CI 60.1 to 79.5) and ‘conflict with a team member’ (71%, 95% CI 60.1 to 79.5). The most frequently reported strategies to mitigate stress were ‘verbalising a plan to the team’ (84%, 95% CI 74.7 to 90.5), ‘implementing a standardised/structured approach’ (73%, 95% CI 62.7 to 81.6) and ‘asking for help’ (57%, 95% CI 46.5 to 67.5). 79% (95% CI 69.3 to 86.6) of EPs reported that they would like additional training on stress management. Junior EPs more frequently reported the use of ‘mental rehearsal’ to mitigate stress during a resuscitation (62% vs 22%; p<0.01) while female EPs reported ‘asking for help’ as a mitigator of stress more frequently than male EPs (79% vs 47%; p=0.01).Conclusions Stress is commonly experienced by EPs during resuscitation and can impact decision-making and procedural performance. This study identifies the most common sources of stress during a resuscitation as well as the strategies that EPs use to mitigate the effects of stress on their performance. These findings may contribute to the development of tailored stress management training for critical care clinicians.Data are available upon reasonable request. The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.