This study is aiming at investigating whether professional burnout in people involved in the mobile intensive care unit (in French: Element Mobile de Réanimation, EMR) in Mulhouse (France) can be predicted upstream by a low mindfulness level (as a protective factor) or by a dysregulation of stress pathways with a high level of perceived stress towards an emotional event (psychological index of allostatic load), i.e. an early and silent dysfunctional physiological response (measured by the electrophysiological and biological measurements of allostasis load and parasympathetic brake). It is part of a global approach aiming at identifying levers to prevent the allostatic load of occupational stress related to large-scale health crises.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
50
Assessment of burnout, mindfulness, interoceptive awareness, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, coping flexibility and sleep through questionnaires.
Saliva sample is collected before and after emotional stimulation in order to measure resting-state allostatic load biomarkers: DHEA, cortisol and chromogranine A levels
Electrocardiogram and electrodermal activity (tonic and phasic) is collected at rest and after emotional stimulation.
Emotional stimulation involves asking the participants to remember a recent event related to the COVID-19 crisis that has been emotionally difficult for them. Perceived stress, situational awareness and emotions is assessed after emotional stimulation through questionnaires.
Elément Militaire de Réanimation (EMR)
Mulhouse, France
Professional burnout
Professional burnout is measured at D21 by the Burnout Measure Short Version (BMS) questionnaire It is a 10-item questionnaire used to assess burnout regardless of the occupational category. Each item is rated from 0 to 6 ("never" to "always"). An average score (sum/10) below 2.4 indicates a very low degree of burnout exposure; a score between 2.5 and 3.4 indicates a low degree of burnout exposure; a score between 3.5 and 4.4 indicates the presence of burnout; a score between 4.5 and 5.4 indicates a high degree of burnout exposure; a score above 5.5 indicates a very high degree of burnout exposure.
Time frame: 21 days after enrollment (Day 21)
Mindfulness level
Mindfulness level is assessed at D0 thanks to the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory. It is a 14 item scale. Each item is rated from 1 to 4 ("almost never" to "almost always"). The total score is between 14 and 56. The mean value in a population of young adults under 36 years of age is 38.5 (+/- 5.1 standard deviation).
Time frame: Day 1
Perceived stress level following the emotional stimulation
Perceived stress level is assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). It is a 14 item scale. Each item is rated from 0 to 5 ("never" to "very often"). The total score ranges from 0 to 56 with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress.
Time frame: Day 1
Parasympathetic flexibility evolution during emotional recall
Parasympathetic flexibility is assessed through dynamic electro-physiological analysis of cardiac and electrodermal conductance recordings. Physiological and cognitive reserve of emotional regulation is assessed through the analysis of the spectral power of the 0.1 Hz frequency band at emotional recall.
Time frame: Day 1
Sympathetic tone at rest
The activity of the sympathetic tone is assessed by the measurement of the resting state salivary Chromogranin A. Physiological and cognitive reserve of emotional regulation is assessed through the analysis of the spectral power of the 0.1 Hz frequency band at emotional recall. The activity of the sympathetic tone is assessed by the measurement of the resting salivary Chromogranin A.
Time frame: Day 1
Corticotropic activation at rest
Corticotropic activation at rest is assessed through the DHEA/cortisol level ratio
Time frame: Day 1
Mood disorders (anxiety / depression)
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD-s32) is used to assess mood disorders in the general non-psychiatric population. It is used to discriminate between anxiety and depression. Scores greater than 11 are indicative of charcaterized anxiety/depression.
Time frame: Day 1
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic disorder is assessed with the PCL-5. It is a 20-item self-administered questionnaire representing DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis symptoms rated by the subject on a scale from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely") during the past month. Scores range from 0 to 80. A score greater than of 33 evokes the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Time frame: Day 1
Sleep quality
Sleep quality is assesses thanks to the Leeds Sleep Evaluation questionnaire (LEEDS). It consists of ten visual analogue scales assessing four aspects of sleep: (i) quality of falling asleep and degree of drowsiness, (ii) quality of sleep, (iii) quality of wakefulness, and (iv) quality of post-wakefulness and performance.
Time frame: Day 1
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