Psychosocial risk at work, self-perceived stress, and salivary cortisol level in a sample of emergency physicians in Granada

Objectives: 1) To describe psychosocial risks, stable disposition to feel stress, and salivary cortisol levels in a sample of emergency physicians in Granada, Spain; 2) to explore bivariate associations between the aforementioned factors; and 3) to analyze the results by gender. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 32 physicians working at the emergency departments of 2 hospitals in Granada. Occupational psychosocial risk and perceived stress level were assessed with the ISTAS-21 instrument (validated Spanish version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (trait scale; STAI-T). Salivary cortisol (Salivette) was also measured as a biochemical marker of stress at 3 moments during a work shift. Results: The emergency physicians reported psychosocial risk factors, particularly high demand on psychological resources and low job control. The stress levels in the male physicians were significantly higher than in the general population (P<.017). Cortisol levels were within the normal range. On bivariate analysis, no associations were found between ISTAS-21 findings, STAI-T scores, and cortisol levels. Conclusions: Emergency physicians are in a potentially harmful working situation, although we detected no effect on cortisol as a biochemical marker of stress. [Emergencias 2012;24:101-106]