Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 10 issue 1 2020
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The effect of clinical simulation assessment on stress and anxiety measures in emergency care students
Dublin Core
Title
Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 10 issue 1 2020
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The effect of clinical simulation assessment on stress and anxiety measures in emergency care students
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The effect of clinical simulation assessment on stress and anxiety measures in emergency care students
Subject
Simulation
Assessment
Stress
Anxiety
Assessment
Stress
Anxiety
Description
Background: Clinical simulation has become widespread as a training and assessment tool across a range of
health professions, including emergency care. As with any form of assessment, simulations may be associated
with stress and anxiety (“distress”) which may have a negative effect on student performance if demands required
by the simulation outweigh the available resources. This study aimed to assess the effect of participation
by students in an emergency care simulation on an objective measure of stress and a subjective measure of
anxiety.
Methods: Heart rate variability (HRV) and scores from a validated state anxiety instrument (the State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory) were assessed in 36 emergency medical care students participating in scheduled simulation
assessments. Data recorded during a resting control period were used for comparison.
Results: HRV variables showed changes in the simulation assessment group suggesting decreased variability and
parasympathetic withdrawal, however these were not significantly different to control. Heart rate in the simulation
assessment group increased significantly (73.5/min vs. 107.3/min, p < 0.001). State anxiety scores
increased significantly both before (33.5 vs. 49.1, p < 0.001) and after (33.5 vs. 60, p < 0.001) the simulation
assessment, compared to control. No linear relationship was found between any HRV variables and anxiety
scores.
Conclusion: Participating in an emergency care simulation assessment significantly elevated levels of anxiety in a
group of 36 students, however an objective measure of stress did not identify changes significantly different to
those at rest, with the exception of heart rate. The high levels of anxiety documented before and after simulation
assessments may have a negative effect on performance and require further investigation.
health professions, including emergency care. As with any form of assessment, simulations may be associated
with stress and anxiety (“distress”) which may have a negative effect on student performance if demands required
by the simulation outweigh the available resources. This study aimed to assess the effect of participation
by students in an emergency care simulation on an objective measure of stress and a subjective measure of
anxiety.
Methods: Heart rate variability (HRV) and scores from a validated state anxiety instrument (the State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory) were assessed in 36 emergency medical care students participating in scheduled simulation
assessments. Data recorded during a resting control period were used for comparison.
Results: HRV variables showed changes in the simulation assessment group suggesting decreased variability and
parasympathetic withdrawal, however these were not significantly different to control. Heart rate in the simulation
assessment group increased significantly (73.5/min vs. 107.3/min, p < 0.001). State anxiety scores
increased significantly both before (33.5 vs. 49.1, p < 0.001) and after (33.5 vs. 60, p < 0.001) the simulation
assessment, compared to control. No linear relationship was found between any HRV variables and anxiety
scores.
Conclusion: Participating in an emergency care simulation assessment significantly elevated levels of anxiety in a
group of 36 students, however an objective measure of stress did not identify changes significantly different to
those at rest, with the exception of heart rate. The high levels of anxiety documented before and after simulation
assessments may have a negative effect on performance and require further investigation.
Creator
Christopher Stein
Source
www.elsevier.com/locate/afjem
Publisher
afem
Date
9 December 2019
Contributor
peri irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Citation
Christopher Stein, “Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 10 issue 1 2020
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The effect of clinical simulation assessment on stress and anxiety measures in emergency care students,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 13, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2418.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
The effect of clinical simulation assessment on stress and anxiety measures in emergency care students,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 13, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2418.